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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico 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 more at ease knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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