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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as 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 located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop 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 operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation enabling individuals to persist on the freeway and extend this pursuit,” said a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by police, as documented in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase 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 CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she was not injured. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.