🔗 Share this article

A female individual previously residing at a women’s sobriety home in the state of California allegedly took a stolen van and led a hours-long police chase culminating with her crossing the international boundary into Mexico on the start of the week.

Vehicle Theft Discovered from Sober Living Home

According to a police announcement, a another female, the owner of the vehicle, 45, reported that her 2004 gray Toyota Sienna was stolen, along with her vehicle key. The owner, who operates two women’s sober living homes, named the suspect as Alyssa Wilson at a recovery facility in Thousand Oaks, situated approximately an hour’s drive of LA.

“The keys were taken from my manager’s handbag. I happened to pull up right when it was occurring,” she said, noting that the vehicle is designated for the facility’s daily operations.

Dramatic Chase Develops Across Multiple Counties

Officials tracked the van about 19 kilometers north in a nearby city, where they tried to initiate a traffic stop, but Wilson did not comply and accelerated rapidly. She reached speeds of about 145km/h on the 118 freeway until the pursuit continued into Los Angeles county. At that point, Ventura county authorities transferred the operation to the CHP once the driver merged onto the 405 freeway heading south.

“This one is very unique in the sense of the traffic conditions allowing drivers to continue to remain on the freeway and prolong this chase,” commented a spokesperson from the Ventura county sheriff’s office.

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

International Getaway and Aftermath Developments

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

Walters stated on the following day that the vehicle was situated in Tijuana, Mexico and that she was working with the CHP to retrieve it.

“Ultimately, I’m not concerned with the vehicle,” she said. “I’m relieved knowing she was not injured. The car is easily substituted.”

Insight from the Facility Operator

Walters, who has operated Diana’s House Sober Living since October 2024, acknowledges that the journey toward sobriety from addiction and trauma is often non-linear.

“This represents a psychological and addiction emergency,” Walters emphasized. “There is a need for more support. We need greater resources for those that are struggling.”

“The recovery process can be messy,” Walters concluded.