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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the road by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” she added.