This is not the family's first loss involving a car accident.
Police are not revealing many details about this accident.
However, investigators said the female driver was drunk and behind the wheel at 8:45 this morning when she struck and killed a man.
It appears the driver and the victim knew each other but police are saying very little about their connection.
"In the name of Jesus Christ, I know he has eternal life. I know he's going to a better place oh god. In the name of Jesus," shouted the Thomas family in the middle of A Street.
This emotional prayer came hours after 48-year old Sendy 'Unopase' Thomas was run over by this car in downtown Fresno Saturday morning.
"It's very important. We pray even besides death, we're a praying family," said Cousin Sharnice Norris.
Investigators said the female driver was intoxicated when they found her in the car.
The crash reconstruction team spent most of the day figuring out how Thomas was hit.
Norris: "I was told she had him pinned against the fence and I guess when she moved to peel off he fell and she ran over him and that's where he lay."
Sadly, this is not the first time Thomas has been run over by a car. When he was 8 years old relatives say he was dragged down the street.
Norris: "Told him don't ride the big wheel in the street keep it on the sidewalk, sure enough he wanted to race a car and my dad found him underneath the car."
Cousin Chandra Woods said: "I know I know. This happened when he was little and this is what he's going home too."
And several years ago Thomas's father was killed in a car accident. His family said this loss is too familiar.
Norris: "We're gonna miss him, I'm gonna miss my cousin. And I'm gonna miss his smile."
"Always had a smile on his face, always a smile to him. It's just sad that something like this had to happen," said Woods.
Police said the driver is cooperating in this investigation.
She is only detained right now, not arrested as police consider what criminal charges she will face.
