SoCal Minivan Chase Suspect Makes It To Mexico After 4-County Pursuit

A woman driving a minivan reported stolen from Ventura County led police on a chase across Southern California Monday, reaching Mexico about three hours after the chase began and some 180 miles from where it started.

The driver's mother had contacted the California Highway Patrol to say the woman is not armed, according to broadcast reports.

The gray Toyota Sienna was reported stolen in Thousand Oaks at around 10:34 a.m.. About 20 minutes later, Ventura County Sheriff's Office deputies spotted the vehicle and began chasing it on the Reagan (118) Freeway in Simi Valley, then onto the San Diego (405) Freeway, where the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, according to deputies.

Within an hour, the chase was ongoing on the 405 Freeway near Mulholland Drive, in the Sepulveda Pass in Los Angeles, according to KTLA.

By 11:40 a.m., the driver had reached Torrance and successfully avoided two deployments of spike strips on the freeway, according to Fox 11.

The driver continued south and officers were pursuing the driver near the 405 and Long Beach (710) Freeway interchange near the Long Beach Airport soon after, according to KTLA.

The driver hit speeds of over 80 mph on the freeway.

The driver was on the 405 in Orange County by noon, and numerous helicopters and police cars' sirens could be heard in the area.

She continued south into Irvine by 12:10 p.m. and continued heading south into San Clemente on the 5 Freeway.

Authorities again deployed a spike strip north of Camp Pendleton, damaging the right rear portion of the van. But it did not appear to cause damage to any tires, KTLA reported.

Heavier traffic on the 5 Freeway in Oceanside allowed officers to throw another spike strip, which was not successful in stopping the van. The driver continued south into San Diego County.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the driver had made it to San Diego's Mission Valley on the 805 Freeway, when a large number of police SUVs and motorcycles were trailing the minivan.

It headed into Chula Visa at around 1:20 p.m., NBC 7 reported.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office ASTREA team confirmed to NBC 7 and FOX 5/KUSI that the vehicle had crossed into Mexico at around 1:30 p.m.

City News Service contributed to this report.