On Sunday night, Mr. Robinson’s Batmobile had some engine trouble and it came to a stop on Interstate 70 while it was still partially in the fast lane. He pulled over and was checking the engine when another auto struck his, sending his beloved vehicle into him. The boy grew up, but the role grew on Robinson, who became known variously as the Route 29 Batman, Beltway Batman and Baltimore Batman. The driver of the Toyota Camry was not injured during the collision.
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Robinson had been visiting hospitals for quite some time when he rose to Internet fame three years ago, when he was pulled over by Maryland cops in his custom Lamborghini, fully clothed as Batman. Since Robinson wasn’t a Hollywood movie star, he decided that the best way to fulfill kids’ hero fantasies was to become Batman, offering rides in his Batmobile and putting on a show at local hospitals. According to CNN, Robinson spent tens of thousands of dollars on his 60s-style Batmobile, his detailed Batman suit and various gifts he would give out to the children he visited. “And that responsibility is to be there for the kids, to be strong for them, and to make them smile as much as I can”, says Robinson. “That’s all he wanted to do”, Mr Robinson’s brother told the Washington Post.
Lenny B. Robinson was known as Batman to children in area hospitals. Video of the police encounter made him an instant online hit. When I asked him to do anything, he always said yes…
According to the publication, Robinson made a sizeable fortune building a cleaning business that he later sold, and then started dressing up as the Dark Knight in 2001 to cater to his youngest son’s Batman obsession.
Robinson worked with Hope for Henry, a Washington, D.C., organization which helps sick children.
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“I’ve been getting e-mails and calls and texts and people crying all day long”, Strongin said.
