LEWISTON — As far as his friends are concerned, Chris Moreno was Batman.

The 27-year-old Auburn man was killed in a motorcycle crash Sunday night and an air of intrigue surrounded his death when it was revealed that he had been dressed as Batman at the time of the wreck.

Friends were getting Batman tattoos to honor their fallen comrade. A benefit gathering was planned for the weekend. In Moreno’s social circle, there was grieving, but there was also a celebration of the man’s life and times.

“He was Batman for Halloween,” friend Colby Haley said, “and everyone loved it, so when we put out an invite to a ‘Friendsgiving’ event, he wrote, ‘Batman will be there.’ Little did we know he was going to put on his Batman outfit and try and show up on his bike.”

Police said Moreno died of injuries sustained in a head-on collision with a pickup truck Sunday at Fair and College streets in Lewiston.

Investigators did not confirm that Moreno had been wearing a Batman suit at the time, although they did acknowledge that he’d been clad in a lot of black Spandex.

At least one witness reported seeing a man dressed as Batman, cape and all, shortly before the accident. Sun Journal employee Kirsten Lamiette said she saw what appeared to be Batman atop a motorcycle on Main Street on Sunday night, not far from the crash site. The sight was so unique, she snapped a picture of the rider.

“I was on my way to work and had just crossed the bridge where Court Street becomes Main Street in Lewiston,” Lamiette said, “and he pulled up next to me at that stoplight. He sped off and was weaving in and out of traffic as soon as the light changed. I walked into the office and declared, ‘I just saw Batman on a motorcycle.’ Showed everyone the picture. Not even two minutes later, we heard over the radio about an accident, car versus motorcycle, and I just thought, ‘Gosh, I hope it wasn’t Batman.'”

According to his friends, Lamiette’s Batman was Moreno. It was the kind of thing he was known to do.

“He was always about making everyone laugh and question what he was doing,” Haley said, “and this was sure something we would expect from him.”

“If you were having a bad day, you could always count on him to make you feel better,” said D.J. Searles of Winthrop. “No matter what the situation, whether it was work or whatever, he would find a way to mine fun out of it. He was definitely a one-of-a-kind guy.”

Haley said #rememeberthebatman stickers were being distributed as a way to honor Moreno. In addition, a benefit was being organized for Saturday night to help Moreno’s family. More information can be found at facebook.com/events/1661875847431799/.

The crash remained under investigation.

Coverage: Motorcyle operator killed in Lewiston crash