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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly stole a minivan and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, 45, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived just as it was happening,” Walters stated, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the suspect refused to stop and sped away. She attained speeds of about 145km/h on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This one is particularly unusual in the sense of the road situation enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the spike strips deployed on the road by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

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

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

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she wasn’t hurt. The minivan is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

Walters, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

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