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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and led a prolonged police chase ending with her traveling across the border into Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this pursuit,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the highway patrol to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

The vehicle owner stated on Tuesday that the vehicle 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 worried about the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

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

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