A 29-year-old Simi Valley woman allegedly stole a minivan Monday and led a 155-mile pursuit from Ventura County to the San Ysidro Port of Entry before crossing into Mexico, authorities said.
She reentered the U.S. on Tuesday and turned herself in to Ventura County deputies. The run took a little more than two hours, with speeds often near the flow of traffic and multiple failed spike-strip attempts, according to ABC7’s live coverage. (RELATED: DC Police Sergeant Arrested In Chaotic Chase With Federal Agents Despite Liberals Insisting City Is Safe)
“We don’t want this car forcing its way through the entry, hurting other people,” California Highway Patrol Sgt. Esteban Hernandez said, according to the Los Angeles Times, explaining why units were canceled near the border around 1:19 p.m. Monday.
Deputies said the gray 2004 Toyota Sienna was taken from a sober living home on the 1900 block of East Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks shortly after 10:30 a.m, ABC7 reported. A traffic stop in Simi Valley failed, and the driver entered State Route 118, then the southbound 405, 5 and 805 freeways before reaching the border just before 1:30 p.m.
CHP notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 1:08 p.m. that the van was nearing San Ysidro, then terminated the pursuit on State Route 905 for public safety; by 1:24 p.m., officers were told the minivan had crossed into Mexico, according to the Times.
Officials reportedly said the woman was experiencing a mental health crisis; charges are pending.