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Stolen Sober-Living Van Leads 170-Mile Southern California Chase Before Crossing Into Mexico

CHP canceled the pursuit near San Ysidro for public safety following a CBP alert.

Overview

  • A 2004 Toyota Sienna was reported stolen around 10:30 a.m. from Diana's House Sober Living in Thousand Oaks, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
  • Deputies and CHP pursued south via SR-118, I-405 and I-5 through Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties over roughly two hours at speeds reaching about 80–90 mph.
  • Officers attempted at least four spike-strip deployments, including near Camp Pendleton and Oceanside, but the driver avoided them.
  • CHP notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 1:08 p.m., canceled units on SR-905 at about 1:19 p.m. for safety, and the minivan crossed into Mexico minutes later.
  • Authorities and the vehicle’s owner identified the driver as 29-year-old Alyssa Wilson, a resident of the sober-living facility, with family and owner accounts citing a mental-health crisis; the owner later reported the van in Tijuana.