A police pursuit that lasted for several hours featured a female driver in a stolen silver Toyota minivan as she navigated through multiple counties in Southern California on Monday. The chase began around 10:55 a.m. when deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office spotted the vehicle shortly after it was reported stolen from Thousand Oaks.
The timeline of the chase unfolded rapidly. At 10:35 a.m., the minivan was reported stolen from the 1900 block of Hillcrest Drive. Approximately 20 minutes later, deputies attempted a traffic stop after spotting the vehicle in Moorpark. However, the driver refused to stop, prompting the pursuit to commence. The chase moved east on the 118 Freeway and continued south on the 405 Freeway, with the driver reaching speeds above 80 mph.
As the pursuit progressed, the California Highway Patrol took over once the chase crossed the 101 Freeway in Encino. Officers made several attempts to halt the vehicle using spike strips, but the driver managed to evade these efforts successfully. The chase traveled through Orange County and eventually onto the 5 Freeway in San Diego County.
By 1:30 p.m., the driver had reached the US-Mexico border, successfully crossing into Mexico and effectively concluding the multi-county pursuit. As it stands, it remains unclear if authorities will seek extradition for the suspect.
This incident underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in high-speed pursuits and the complexities involved when criminal activity crosses into international boundaries.