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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California reportedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the 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 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the pursuit to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by police, as seen in footage from above.

Cross-Border Escape and Aftermath Developments

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by 1.30pm, prompting the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the vehicle,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, recognizes that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.