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A woman formerly staying at a women’s sobriety home in California allegedly took a stolen van and engaged in a prolonged police chase culminating with her crossing the border into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Reported from Recovery Residence

According to a law enforcement statement, a second woman, Nicolle Walters, forty-five years old, notified authorities that her gray minivan from 2004 was stolen, along with her car key. Walters, who manages two female recovery residences, named the suspect as one of the residents at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, located approximately an hour’s drive of Los Angeles.

“My keys were taken out of my house manager’s purse. I happened to pull up just as it was occurring,” Walters stated, noting that the minivan is used for the sobriety home’s tasks.

High-Speed Pursuit Unfolds Across Several Regions

Authorities located the van about 19 kilometers to the north in a nearby city, where they attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 90mph on the State Route 118 until the chase proceeded into LA County. At that juncture, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once Wilson merged onto the Interstate 405 traveling southbound.

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

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

International Getaway and Aftermath

The pursuit finally arrived at the international border by early afternoon, prompting the CHP to terminate the chase due to legal limitations.

Walters indicated on the following day that the minivan 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 concerned with the car,” Walters remarked. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The minivan 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 not always linear.

“This represents a mental health and substance abuse crisis,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for additional assistance. We need more resources for those that are struggling.”

“Recovery isn’t always pretty,” she added.