1 arrested after well-known Charlotte chef killed in deadly crash on Central Avenue

A well-known executive chef from Charlotte died in a Plaza Midwood car crash on Central Avenue Saturday, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The driver of a Nissan Sentra, who police say was speeding and impaired, caused the wreck and hit a Hyundai, pushing it off the road and into a power pole.

Paramedics said the Hyundai’s driver — Kendall Ross, 29 — died at the scene. First responders had to cut the vehicle to rescue his wife, Lillian Hennes, from the passenger seat and took her to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Ross was a corporate executive chef who recently led a kitchen for the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, according to his Instagram. He was a touring chef for singers Ed Sheeran and Rod Stewart, according to his LinkedIn, and helped open uptown Italian restaurant Angelines.

Ross and Hennes, who is a former third grade teacher, married last year, according to a Fundly page made to raise money for her medical bills and Ross’ funeral. The newlyweds were settling into their first home and enjoying married life before the crash, according to the page.

The driver of the Nissan and his passenger were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to CMPD.

Police arrested and charged the Nissan driver — Alejandro Gomez, 23 — with assault with deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony death by vehicle and reckless driving, according to CMPD.

Police say Gomez was speeding on a curved stretch of Central Avenue near Briar Creek Road, where small medians line the center lane, when he veered into the right lane, hit the back of Ross’ Hyundai and then hit a curb and spun out. The car Ross was driving hit a power pole and became wedged between an embankment and pole, authorities said.