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A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a hours-long law enforcement pursuit ending with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Auto Theft Discovered from Recovery Residence

As stated in a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her gray minivan from 2004 was missing, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at Diana’s House Sober Living, situated approximately 60 minutes north-west of Los Angeles.

“The keys were taken out of my manager’s handbag. I arrived right when it was happening,” she said, noting that the vehicle is used for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Unfolds Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 19 kilometers to the north in Simi Valley, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She attained speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the pursuit proceeded into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the California highway patrol once the driver entered the 405 freeway traveling southbound.

“This incident is particularly unusual in the sense of the traffic conditions enabling individuals to continue to remain on the highway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

The suspect allegedly avoided all the tire-deflation devices deployed on the roadway by police, as documented 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 terminate the chase due to jurisdictional constraints.

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

“Ultimately, I’m not worried about the car,” she said. “I’m more at ease knowing she was not injured. The minivan is replaceable.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

The sober living home owner, who has run Diana’s House Sober Living since last October, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is not always linear.

“This is a psychological and substance abuse emergency,” she said. “We need additional assistance. It is essential to provide more resources for those that are facing challenges.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” Walters concluded.