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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials located the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation allowing individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “We need additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.