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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a police statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“My keys were taken from my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” she said, adding that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to persist on the highway and prolong this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she was not injured. The car is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.