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

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.