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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in California reportedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged police chase ending with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Sober Living Home

As stated in a law enforcement announcement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who manages two women’s sober living homes, identified the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

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

High-Speed Pursuit Develops Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried 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 pursuit proceeded into LA County. At that point, local sheriff’s deputies handed over the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the sense of the road situation enabling drivers to persist on the freeway and extend this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase finally arrived at the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to legal limitations.

The vehicle owner indicated on the following day that the minivan was situated 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,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is replaceable.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is often non-linear.

“This is a psychological and addiction emergency,” she said. “There is a need for more support. It is essential to provide greater resources for those that are struggling.”

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