Daughter, Chapel Hill community mourn, celebrate father-son business owners killed in crash

A head-on collision killed a father and son last week – owners of an iconic family business on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill.

Krystal Chellani says her father, Dhruva Chellani, came to America decades ago from India and worked hard to start the Classic Carolina, a landmark store filled with UNC apparel.

"Everybody loved the store. Everybody in the community knew my dad and brother," she said.

Father and son, along with wife and mother Nina Chellani were returning from an event in Apex last week when, Krystal Chellani says, a speeding driver crossed the center lane and hit their car head-on. The two men were killed, and Nina Chellani seriously injured.

"It's very tragic. It's hard to deal with," Krystal Chellani told WRAL News.

Kris Chellani was poised to take over the family-owned company.

"They were always decked out in Carolina merchandise, you know, bleeding UNC blue," his sister said.

"I don't know how I'll ever come to terms with the fact they're truly gone."

Nina Chellani was hospitalized with a broken back and other injuries. She required surgery, according to the family's GoFundMe.

Chellani family was planning grand reopening of Classic Carolina

The family has owned Classic Carolina since 1993 and was reportedly planning a grand re-opening of the store that was intended to be held just a few days after the tragic crash.

Krystal Chellani said that legacy is now left to her.

"I hope one day I can continue the legacy with the family business and continue with their business because I know that's what they'd want for me," she said.

Kris Chellani: Viral TikTok influencer started nationwide trends

Kris Chellani was also a social media producer on TikTok, where he had over 100,000 followers and nearly 10 million shares. According to his LinkedIn, he popularized a TikTok trend of a social experiment that involves offering money to strangers on the street or asking if they'd rather double the amount and pass it along to someone else.

Chapel Hill community pulls together to raise money for Chellani family

A friend, Elija Moracco-Schelp, was with the family when they learned of the crash. He had known Kris Chellani since elementary school.

"He always looked up to his dad. He wanted to be like his dad. He wanted to be successful. He wanted to make his family proud," Moracco-Schelp said of his life-long friend.

"It feels like there's less light in the world now that he's not in it."

The community has begun pulling together to support the family. Through five days GoFundMe had raised more than $60,000 for the family.

Quotes from donors show how deeply connected to the community the family was, with some saying they'll remember Dhruva as a very kind man, and others recalling shopping at his store since they were in elementary school.

"They were such amazing people," Krystal Chellani said.

"They will never be forgotten. They were legends – the two most amazing men that were ever on this earth, and they will be truly truly missed."

Charges possible against driver in head-on crash

According to the State Highway Patrol, Jason Darrell Frye, 45, of Apex, was responsible for the crash that killed the Chellanis. He crossed the center line in his Chevrolet Suburban SUV, hitting the Tesla driven by Kris Chellani.

Frye, too, was injured in the crash and he was being treated at UNC Hospital.

Highway Patrol investigators planned to meet with the Chatham County District Attorney to discuss charges against Frye.