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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I arrived right when it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The minivan 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 journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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