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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, 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 operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were stolen out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run the recovery residence since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

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

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.