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A woman previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase ending with her traveling across the border into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a law enforcement statement, a another female, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, 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, identified the alleged thief as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the sobriety home’s tasks.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Officials tracked the stolen vehicle about 12 miles 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 continued into Los Angeles county. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this pursuit,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly dodged all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in footage from above.

International Getaway and Aftermath

The chase eventually reached the US-Mexico border by early afternoon, leading to the CHP to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“At the end of the day, I’m not worried about the car,” Walters said. “I’m more at ease aware she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

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

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.