‘Top Chef’ winner, Kelsey Clark, accused of DUI after crashing vehicle with her 2 children inside

DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY/Gray News) - An Alabama chef and winner of a reality TV cooking competition was arrested after crashing her vehicle into a brick mailbox while allegedly driving under the influence.

According to the Dothan Police Department, Kelsey Clark, the season 16 winner of “Top Chef” in 2019, was taken into custody Wednesday night following the reported crash in a residential neighborhood while she was traveling with her two children.

Dothan police said they charged Clark with a DUI after conducting field sobriety tests at the scene.

The children were not injured in the crash and were reportedly allowed to go home with a family member. Clark was also not injured.

“We received a call regarding a vehicle striking the mailbox in the 1300 block of Selkirk Drive,” Dothan police Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Owens said. “Our officers who responded to the scene determined that Ms. Clark was under the influence.”

Having a child under 14 in a vehicle while driving under the influence is considered an aggravated circumstance under Alabama law, but without injury, authorities rarely seek a DUI charge enhancement.

Clark’s intoxication level was not immediately made public.

Her appearance on “Top Chef” has generated significant traffic to her downtown Dothan restaurant, KBC, which she built from a catering business she founded. She also authored two books.

Several hundred cheered for Clark during a downtown victory celebration following her win on the Bravo network program.

Clark would likely be eligible for a pretrial program that would keep the DUI charge off her record. She could also opt to dispute the charges during a municipal court trial.