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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.