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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a mental health and addiction crisis,” Walters emphasized. “We need more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.