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A female individual previously residing at a female recovery facility in California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit culminating with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were stolen out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, adding that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials located the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the CHP once Wilson entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“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 public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by police, as seen in aerial videos.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the minivan was located in the Mexican city of Tijuana and that she was coordinating with the authorities to recover the vehicle.

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” she remarked. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the path to recovery from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” she said. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.