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A woman formerly staying at a female recovery facility in the state of California reportedly stole a minivan and engaged in a hours-long police chase culminating with her traveling across the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

According to a police statement, a another female, 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 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 house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” she said, noting that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Several Regions

Authorities tracked the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and sped away. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the 118 freeway until the chase continued into LA County. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the pursuit to the CHP once the driver entered the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to persist on the highway and prolong this chase,” said a spokesperson from the local law enforcement agency.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices tossed on the roadway by authorities, as seen in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

The chase eventually reached the international border by 1.30pm, leading to the highway patrol to end its pursuit due to jurisdictional constraints.

Walters stated on Tuesday that the vehicle was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the authorities to retrieve it.

“At the end of the day, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she wasn’t hurt. The car is easily substituted.”

Owner’s Perspective

The sober living home owner, who has run the recovery residence since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from substance abuse and emotional distress is not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery can be messy,” she added.