An image taken from a video footage showing the car, a gray Toyota Sienna minivan, passing other vehicles / YouTube
San Diego, California – A woman who stole a minivan from a Thousand Oaks sober living home led police on a high-speed chase through Southern California on Monday before crossing into Mexico, authorities said.
The pursuit stretched for hours across four counties — Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego — as the suspect in a stolen 2004 gray Toyota Sienna reached speeds of up to 90 miles per hour, swerved around spike strips, and somehow managed to avoid serious injury or arrest.
The chase began early Monday morning when Nicolle Walters, 45, discovered her minivan and car keys missing from the home she runs for women recovering from alcohol abuse. Walters told reporters that one of the residents had taken the vehicle without permission.
“She’s someone I was trying to help,” Walters said. “It’s super unfortunate, but I’m just glad she’s safe and nobody got hurt.”
Ventura County deputies first located the van in Simi Valley, about 11 miles north of Thousand Oaks, around dawn. When they attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled, weaving through traffic and accelerating onto State Route 118. The California Highway Patrol took over as the chase moved south on Interstate 405, cutting through Los Angeles during the morning commute and then continuing toward Orange and San Diego Counties.
Local television helicopters tracked the pursuit for hours, capturing dramatic footage of the gray minivan dodging spike strips and barreling down the freeway with police cruisers in pursuit. The chase captivated viewers across Southern California, where televised car chases have become an almost daily spectacle.
As the van neared the border, authorities decided to call off the pursuit. “The California Highway Patrol terminated the chase due to safety concerns as the vehicle approached Mexico,” Sgt. Esteban Hernandez told The Los Angeles Times.
Shortly afterward, Walters said she learned from the driver’s mother that her former resident had successfully crossed into Mexico and was unharmed.
“The van is insured,” Walters added, “and hopefully we’ll be able to get it back to the United States.”
Police said the stolen vehicle has been entered into a national database, and federal authorities have been notified. Walters’ sober living home has also been working with local law enforcement to locate the woman and ensure she receives support rather than punishment if she returns.
