Winona's poet laureate admitted Monday he failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign prior to an October crash that left one man dead.

Kenneth Douglas McCullough, 67, will likely be placed on one year of unsupervised probation and perform community service for his role in the crash.

The charge is a misdemeanor under Minnesota law.

The poet and Richard Allan Strelow, 56, collided about 9:45 p.m. Oct. 2 at the intersection of County Roads 12 and 17 near Witoka, Minn., according to a sheriff's department press release.

McCullough told officers he failed to yield the right of way because he did not see the eastbound motorcyclist, according to court documents. When McCullough did see Strelow just before the collision, he tried to steer clear.

Strelow was pronounced dead at the scene.

Court documents show Strelow was not wearing a helmet, and his blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.

McCullough told officers Strelow's Harley-Davidson appeared to be moving at fast speeds, but court documents say the motorcyclist was traveling within the speed limit when the collision occurred.

McCullough is scheduled to be sentenced July 18 before Winona County Judge Nancy Buytendorp.

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