Batman impersonator who visited sick kids in hospital killed after Batmobile hit by car

A man who dressed as Batman and visited sick children in hospital has been killed after his Batmobile broke down on a motorway and was struck by a car.

Leonard Robinson, dressed as Batman, visits Mattie Dillon on the pediatrics floor of Charleston Area Medical Center Women and Children's Hospital in Charleston. (AAP) Source: The Charleston Gazette

A Batman impersonator who visited sick children in hospital has been killed on a US motorway.

Lenny B. Robinson was driving his "Batmobile" – a custom Lamborghini - on a Maryland motorway when it broke down on Sunday night.

The 51-year-old got out of the vehicle to check the engine when a passing car struck Mr Robinson’s car, which then hit him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, CNN reports.

Mr Robinson regularly visited children in hospitals across Maryland and Washington and spent thousands buying gifts and toys to give them.

He made headlines in 2012 when video footage of him being pulled over in full costume went viral around the world.

The Montgomery County Police Department, which had originally shared the footage on social media, released a statement on Monday at news of Mr Robinson’s death.

"The footage depicted a positive and humorous interaction between officers and Robinson. It was evident that the officers and Robinson had a mutual respect for each other and the job that each was trying to accomplish that day," the statement said.

In a 2012 interview, Mr Robinson explained his motivation for visiting hospitals in costume.

"It's rewarding in a completely different way, just making that child smile," he said. "If I only touch one kid out of all this, then I know I've done really something really successful."