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"Route 29 Batman", known visiting sick children, dies in accident | |
(35 minutes later) | |
An American man famed for dressing up as Batman and visiting sick children in hospital has died after he was hit by a car in Hagerstown, Maryland. | An American man famed for dressing up as Batman and visiting sick children in hospital has died after he was hit by a car in Hagerstown, Maryland. |
Police said Leonard Robinson's car had broken down in the fast lane of a major highway when the incident occurred. | Police said Leonard Robinson's car had broken down in the fast lane of a major highway when the incident occurred. |
He was struck by his own "Batmobile" after another car careered into it. | He was struck by his own "Batmobile" after another car careered into it. |
Robinson, 51, rose to fame in 2012, when a video went viral of him being pulled over by police because his car had invalid number plates. | |
Known as the "Route 29 Batman", Robinson had spent the last 14 years visiting sick children in hospital and handing out Batman paraphernalia in full superhero dress. | Known as the "Route 29 Batman", Robinson had spent the last 14 years visiting sick children in hospital and handing out Batman paraphernalia in full superhero dress. |
According to the Washington Post, he sold his commercial cleaning business to help fund his "Batmobile" - a black Lamborghini. The paper said he spent more than $25,000 (£16,000) of his own money on Batman toys, T-shirts and books to give to children. | According to the Washington Post, he sold his commercial cleaning business to help fund his "Batmobile" - a black Lamborghini. The paper said he spent more than $25,000 (£16,000) of his own money on Batman toys, T-shirts and books to give to children. |
"I'm just doing it for the kids," Robinson told the paper in a profile of him from 2012. | |
He also drove a replica of the car from the 1960s Batman TV show, which he went on to use to visit children in hospitals across the country. | |
His son would occasionally join him on hospital visits dressed as Batman's sidekick, Robin. | |
Robinson was never charged in the 2012 incident that thrust him into the public spotlight, telling police he was on his way to cheer up children at a cancer ward in a nearby hospital. | Robinson was never charged in the 2012 incident that thrust him into the public spotlight, telling police he was on his way to cheer up children at a cancer ward in a nearby hospital. |
A number of people have paid tribute to him on Twitter, including the Bowie Baysox - a minor league Baseball team in Maryland - which said: "The Baysox offer heartfelt condolences to Lenny Robinson's family. He appeared as Batman at the Baysox several times." | A number of people have paid tribute to him on Twitter, including the Bowie Baysox - a minor league Baseball team in Maryland - which said: "The Baysox offer heartfelt condolences to Lenny Robinson's family. He appeared as Batman at the Baysox several times." |
According to the Washington Post, he was returning from a car show in Virginia when the incident occurred. Police say the crash is under investigation, but no charges have been filed. |