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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

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 car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the 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 chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters stated on the following day that the minivan was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

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