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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

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 vehicle key. Walters, who operates two female recovery residences, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen from my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities located the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. 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 pursuit to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect reportedly avoided all the spike strips tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit eventually reached the international border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was coordinating with the authorities to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m relieved aware she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “We need more support. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery can be messy,” Walters concluded.