Batman killed after Batmobile breaks down on MD highway

This very sad news...R.I.P good man.

Route 29 Batman is killed after his Batmobile breaks down along a Maryland highway

By Michael S. Rosenwald and John Woodrow Cox August 17 at 9:46 AM

The Route 29 Batman, whose roadside encounter with Montgomery County police three years ago made him a viral sensation around the world, has died.

Lenny B. Robinson, the 51-year-old Maryland man who drove a black Lamborghini and dressed as Batman to visit sick children in hospitals, was struck by a car on I-70 Sunday night near Hagerstown after his Batmobile broke down. He was coming home from a car show in West Virginia.

Robinson had just stopped at a gas station, where he met a family whose children were interested in his custom-made car, state police in Hagerstown said. Robinson gave the kids some Batman paraphernalia before leaving about the same time as his new acquaintances. When they saw him pull over, they did the same.

Batman had engine trouble and stopped “partially in the fast lane,” according to a state police press release. He was checking the engine while standing in the eastbound fast lane. The Batmobile was struck by a Toyota Camry, whose driver was not injured. The Batmobile then hit Robinson. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation, and no charges have been filed.





The world discovered Batman in 2012, after he was pulled over in Silver Spring, Md., in his Lamborghini and full superhero costume. *Video of his encounter with police, who had pulled him over because of a problem with his plates, which feature the Batman symbol, made him an instant sensation on the Web.

The Dark Knight’s encounter with law enforcement began turning up in millions of Facebook news feeds. The episode even made it into a Jimmy Fallon monologue.

Batman, who lived outside of Baltimore, had cleaned up in the cleaning business, making enough money to buy his own Batmobile, a costume that seemed more real than the one in the movies, and toys and memorabilia that he handed out to children with cancer at hospitals all over Maryland and the District.

On one visit to Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, he reflected on the health of his own three children. “We’re lucky,” he said.

At Children’s Hospital, there were kids with tubes in their noses, with IVs in their arms. He handed out gifts: Batman books, rubber Batman symbol bracelets and other toys.

Batman made those kids smile. They all thought he was Batman, a hero.

“I’m just doing it for the kids,” he said.

Batman worked closely with Hope for Henry, a D.C. organization that helps sick children. Founded by Laurie Strongin and Allen Goldberg after their son Henry died from a rare disease, the group threw super hero parties in hospitals. Batman was always the star.

“He made so many kids so happy,” Strongin said. “When I asked him to do anything, he always said yes.”

Batman had never met Henry.

“But he called me every year on his birthday,” Strongin said.

Strongin has been crying all morning. The organization had just finished producing a video about the program. It starts with a little boy dressed as Batman. He has leukemia. He’s waiting outside a hospital. The real Batman — Lenny Robinson — pulls up in his Batmobile, gets out and hugs the boy.

“He was magic,” Strongin said.

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*To see the viral video of him being pulled over, click link, halfway down..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local...3-11e5-8ab4-c73967a143d3_story.html?tid=sm_fb

 

Absolutely tragic

I had never heard of him before, but to read about his work with kids is heartwarming.
Must have been a good guy.

 

Very sad. RIP.

 

RIP.

 

This is the first time I hear of him,but he sounds like a good hearted person.
The world needs some more people like that.
May he rest in peace!

 

Exactly

 

Such sad news....

 

Very great guy. Sorry his life was taken so tragically. I'm sure he touched the lives of so many, wish more people would give back in ways like these. Rest in paradise.

 

I remember reading about this man years ago, very remarkable what he did out of the kindness of his heart.