The Latest: Friend: ‘Unplugged’ creator walking dog when hit

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Latest on the death of a co-creator of “MTV Unplugged” (all times local):

8:25 p.m.

Friends of an “MTV Unplugged” co-creator who was struck by a New York taxi and died of his injuries say he had been walking his dog when he was hit.

Police initially said Jim Burns was with a guide dog when he was struck. But family friends say Burns didn’t have vision problems and the dog was a pet.

Burns’ friend Paul Ward tells the Daily News friends have taken comfort in knowing the end of Burns’ life came when he was doing his favourite thing: walking his dog to Central Park.

The dog wasn’t injured and is being cared for by a neighbour.

Police say the taxi driver who hit Burns on Saturday remained at the scene. Burns died Tuesday.

“MTV Unplugged” debuted in 1989 and features artists performing stripped-down versions of their songs in intimate venues.

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11:45 a.m.

The co-creator of “MTV Unplugged” has died after being struck by a taxi while crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

Jim Burns was struck Saturday and died Tuesday. Police say the cabbie turned onto the avenue and struck the 65-year-old, who had been walking with his seeing-eye dog near his Upper East Side home. Burns suffered a serious head injury. Police say they are still investigating but don’t expect criminal charges.

An MTV spokeswoman said the network is deeply saddened to learn of the death, and that Burns’ groundbreaking work would live on.

“MTV Unplugged” debuted in 1989. On the show, artists such as Nirvana, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith performed stripped-down versions of their songs in an intimate venue.

Some artists released the recordings as albums. Clapton’s sold 7.7 million copies.

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