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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

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 stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

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

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the local law enforcement agency.

The suspect reportedly dodged all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-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 facing challenges.”

“The recovery process isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.