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A woman previously residing at a female recovery facility in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the international boundary into the nation of Mexico on Monday.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

As stated in a law enforcement statement, a second woman, the owner of the vehicle, forty-five years old, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her car key. The owner, who manages two female recovery residences, named the alleged thief as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up right when it was happening,” Walters stated, adding that the minivan is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Authorities tracked the van about 12 miles north in Simi Valley, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities handed over the operation to the CHP once the driver entered the 405 freeway heading south.

“This incident is very unique in the context of the road situation allowing drivers to continue to remain on the highway and extend this chase,” commented a public information officer from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

Wilson reportedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the road by authorities, as documented in aerial videos.

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters indicated on Tuesday that the minivan was located in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to recover the vehicle.

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

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the path to recovery from substance abuse and trauma is often non-linear.

“This is a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” she said. “We need more support. We need greater resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” she added.