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A female individual formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in 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 LA.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

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 sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit 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 enabling individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.