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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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