Kelsey Barnard Clark, the celebrated chef who triumphed on season 16 of Bravo's Top Chef, has been arrested and charged with driving under the influence after a vehicle collision in Alabama. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in a residential area of Dothan, with reports indicating two children were present in the car at the time.
Police Response and Arrest Details
According to local news outlets, the Dothan County Police Department responded to a call about a crash on Selkirk Drive. Public Information Officer Lieutenant Scott Owens stated that officers arrived to find a vehicle had struck a mailbox. Upon investigation, they determined that Clark, 35, was operating the vehicle while impaired.
"Our officers who responded to the scene determined that Ms. Clark was under the influence," Lt. Owens told WRBC 6 News. Clark was subsequently taken into custody and spent the night in jail, facing a formal DUI charge.
Children's Safety and Legal Implications
Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the crash. The two children in the vehicle were reportedly released to a family member and allowed to return home. Under Alabama law, driving intoxicated with a child under 14 years old in the car is considered an aggravated circumstance. However, authorities rarely pursue enhanced DUI charges in such cases unless injuries occur, as noted by WRBC 6 News.
Clark is a mother to two children: an eight-year-old son named Monroe and a five-year-old daughter named Evelyn.
Rise to Culinary Fame
The Alabama native gained national recognition after winning the sixteenth season of Top Chef in 2019. Her victory brought significant attention to her upscale Southern restaurant, KBC, located in downtown Dothan, boosting its visitor numbers considerably.
Reflecting on her experience in a March 2019 Instagram post following her win, Clark wrote, "When I decided to do Top Chef, I was really concerned that it was going to be the biggest mistake of my life. I'm glad that I couldn't have been more wrong. The best bonus was getting to share the journey with this group of inspiring chefs I now call friends."
Career Achievements and Recent Projects
Beyond her television success, Clark has authored three cookbooks: Southern Grit, Southern Get-Togethers, and The Flavor of Fire. Her culinary excellence was further acknowledged in 2024 when she was named a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award in the Best Chef: South category.
Recently, Clark expanded her television presence by serving as a judge on Netflix's cooking competition series, Next Gen Chef. Her arrest marks a stark contrast to her public image as a celebrated chef and restaurateur.
