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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 led a prolonged police chase culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase continued into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this chase,” said a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson allegedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the highway patrol 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 authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.