Florida Woman Goes Viral for Reporting Crash While in Banana Costume: Saw a Car Hit an Orlando Bar on the Way Home From a Halloween Party; No One Injured, Damage Estimated at at Least $50,000
ORLANDO — A Florida woman is going viral for calling police for help after a car crash while she was dressed in a banana costume, the New York Post reported, citing ClickOrlando.
Stephanie Oropeza and her fiancé were heading home from a Halloween party around 4 a.m. Saturday when they saw a driver crash into The Moderne Bar in Orlando. Video from the restaurant shows Oropeza calling police for help after the crash in a banana costume. "At first we were just in shock," Oropeza said of seeing the driver initially "driving on the opposite side of the road" before slowly "veering" into the bar.
When video emerged of her calling for help while still in a banana costume, many people found it too bananas to be true. "They were like, 'Is this AI? Like, are you messing with us?'" said Michael Nguyen, owner of the Moderne who posted the clip online. "And I was like, 'No, no, this is really a rogue 4:30 a.m. banana just roaming the streets of Mills, just saving the day, reporting the incident.'"
Oropeza said she realised she had quickly ascended to internet fame the next morning. "I woke up and I looked up if anyone posted about the crash and then see the headline is 'banana hero,'" she said. The restaurant eventually tracked Oropeza down and thanked her with a free meal. "It feels nice," Oropeza said. "And I hope this all just can spread a better message that if you see someone in need."
Fortunately nobody was injured, but the crash caused serious damage to the restaurant, with Nguyen estimating that repairing the custom fence alone could cost up to $50,000. Six tables and dozens of chairs were also destroyed, he said. Damage from the crash was estimated to be at least $50,000. The Orlando Police Department did not immediately respond to The Post's request for additional information.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：身穿香蕉装的人物（资料图）。照片：Retired electrician，CC0，经维基共享资源。 / A person in a banana costume (file photo). Photo: Retired electrician, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
