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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a prolonged law enforcement pursuit culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, adding that the minivan is used for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to pull the vehicle over, but Wilson refused to stop and sped away. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the Interstate 405 heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the road by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was situated in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was working with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always 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 struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.