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A female individual formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named 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 taken from my house manager’s purse. I arrived just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 12 miles north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to persist on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico 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 relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated the recovery residence since last October, recognizes that the path to recovery from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

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