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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase ending with her traveling across the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Officials located the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted 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 transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once Wilson merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the road by police, as documented in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “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.