ORLANDO, Fla. — A woman dressed as a banana who stopped to help after an SUV crashed into an Orlando bar’s patio says her instinct as a future nurse prompted her to act.
Channel 9 tracked down Stephanie Oropeza after Moderne posted video online seeking the person employees dubbed a “banana hero.”
Oropeza said she and her fiance were heading home from a Halloween party early Saturday when they saw a vehicle veering off the road. After the driver crashed, they immediately pulled over to help.
“I’m actually going to school being a future nurse so it was just instinct,” Oropeza said.
“I needed to at least call for help and make sure he was okay,” she said.
SUV tore through outdoor seating
The crash happened around 4 a.m., while the bar was closed.
The SUV struck a cement planter, the patio railing, several tables and approximately 20 seats. Employees said no one was hurt, and no staff members or customers were on the patio at the time.
Bar manager Brantley Newton said his first reaction was to check when the crash happened.
“My first reaction was looking at the time that this happened and being grateful that we didn’t have any staff, we didn’t have any guests out here at the time,” Newton said.
He said he was shocked and concerned until the owner confirmed the front of the restaurant was intact.
Bar wants to thank her with dinner
Video shared by Moderne showed Oropeza, still wearing her banana costume, calling for help after the crash.
Employees said they want to treat her to dinner to thank her for stopping.
For Oropeza, helping was a straightforward decision.
“I feel like that’s the bare minimum you can do to be a decent human being these days,” she said.
The patio had been cleared of tables and chairs by Saturday evening. Employees said Moderne would remain open for regular service Saturday night.
Channel 9 contacted police for additional information but had not received a response as of Saturday evening. The cause of the crash has not been confirmed.
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