1 killed, 1 hospitalized after being hit by car in Fresno's Tower District, police say

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- One person has died, and another has been hospitalized after being hit by a car in Fresno's Tower District.

It happened after 1:30 am Wednesday behind the Dollar Tree on Maroa and Fern.

Police say they received a 911 call of a vehicle hitting at least two people.

They arrived to find an unhoused man and woman struck in the parking lot.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was taken to Community Regional Medical Center. Her condition is unknown.

Police are still investigating what led up to the incident.

Fresno police say that the driver was under the influence of alcohol when the crash happened.

She's now identified as 25-year-old Cameron Aguilar.

She's been booked into the Fresno County jail on charges including gross vehicle manslaughter, two counts of driving over the alcohol limit causing death, two counts of intoxicated driving causing death, and causing great bodily injury during a felony.

Members of the city's homeless community are coming together to remember the man who died.

"He helped everybody out here. There's not one person out here that he didn't do a favor for," said Joseph Bradley, the victim's friend.

Bradley says the man had lived in the Tower District for years now and put other's needs ahead of his own.

"A lot of people went into motels but he was still out here holding on, he almost made it too, they were coming out here each day," said Bradley.

Wednesday afternoon, the Poverello House went out to Maroa and Fern, handing out snacks and checking on those living in the area.

Councilmember Annalisa Perea, also speaking with friends of the victim, says the Tower District is a hot spot for members of the unhoused community.

"We just want to make sure that for those who want help, help is here for them to take advantage of," said Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea.

Perea says those resources include finding shelter, mental health and drug addiction.

For Dez Martinez, CEO of 'We are not Invisible,' this death is personal.

"It just frustrates me. It really does because this could have been prevented," said Martinez.

She's lived on the streets herself and knows the challenges people face being overlooked.

Martinez says the solution is simple: more housing.

"We don't matter, we don't, at the end of day we remain invisible, people walk by us, how many times have people walked by unhoused people on the streets and tried to avoid eye contact just so they didn't ask for a dollar to eat," said Martinez.

Perea says no matter who you are, safety is a top priority in the city.

According to this year's city budget, 2,000 people in the unhoused community are getting shelter, and $700,00 is set aside to help those struggling with opioid addiction.

"Every life here in the city of Fresno is important to us, and so whatever you need to do to be safe, whether you're housed or unhoused, we want to make sure that we help you find the resources so we can help you have the dignified life that you deserve," said Perea.

For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.