Caught on Camera: Rogue Banana Witnesses Car Crash and Springs Into Action

October 28, 2026

A woman in a banana costume witnessed a car crash and sprang into action to call police.

The restaurant later tracked down its mystery “banana hero” and rewarded her.

The crash / Stephanie | Credit: Stephanie Buffamonte

In the early hours of a Saturday morning in Orlando, Florida, Stephanie Oropeza and her fiancé were heading home from a Halloween party when they witnessed an SUV crash into the outdoor patio of The Moderne Bar.

The vehicle plowed through the restaurant's dining area, smashing tables and chairs and striking a cement planter. Thankfully, no one was injured, although the restaurant was left with extensive damage.

Still wearing her bright yellow banana costume, Oropeza made sure to contact Orlando police and report the crash.

The restaurant later shared security footage of the incident, along with video of Oropeza calling authorities. Before long, the internet had a new hero to celebrate. The Moderne Bar posted a playful message on Facebook, thanking everyone involved in spreading the word about the incident while expressing relief that nobody had been hurt.

“We are looking for this unnamed banana hero,” the restaurant wrote. “We have an appealing offer for them, but they split before we could thank them.”

The restaurant's owner, Michael Nguyen, told News 6 that some people initially thought the footage had to be fake.

“They were like, ‘Is this AI? Like, are you messing with us?’” he recalled.

Nguyen assured them it was real, describing the scene as a “rogue 4:30 a.m. banana” roaming the streets and reporting the incident.

Fortunately, the mystery didn't last long. Once Oropeza was identified as the person who called police, the restaurant found a way to thank her for stepping up by treating her to a free meal.

Although no one was injured in the crash, Oropeza didn't know that for certain when she witnessed it. She made the call because she wanted to make sure help was available if it was needed.

“I needed to at least call for help and make sure he was okay,” she said of the driver. “I feel like that's the bare minimum that you can do as a decent human being these days.”

We couldn't agree more.