DC school bus driver scores $5M lottery jackpot days after turning 59
HYATTSVILLE, MD — A Washington, DC school bus driver who stopped at a Hyattsville 7-Eleven to cash in a $50 lottery prize walked away with a life-changing $5 million jackpot just days after celebrating his 59th birthday.
Maurice Williams claimed the top prize Tuesday on Maryland Lottery’s $5,000,000 LUXE scratch-off game after buying the winning ticket at the 7-Eleven located at 7206 Sheriff Road in Hyattsville.
Williams said he originally stopped at the store on his way to work to cash in a previous $50 winner from the same scratch-off game.
Using the winnings, he bought another ticket and scratched it while sitting in his car.
“I didn’t notice I had a matching number at first, until I scanned it,” Williams told lottery officials. “It’s crazy because the matching number was 59 and I just turned 59 the other day.”
When the ticket scanner revealed the $5 million prize, Williams said he struggled to process what happened.
“I just sat there stuck,” he said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
The first person he called was his mother.
Williams said one of his first major purchases will be buying his mother a house.
After spending a restless night thinking about the win, the DC resident traveled to Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to officially claim the jackpot.
The Hyattsville 7-Eleven that sold the winning ticket will receive a $5,000 bonus.
Maryland Lottery officials said the $5,000,000 LUXE scratch-off launched in February with three top prizes worth $5 million each. Two top prizes remain unclaimed.
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Key Points
• DC school bus driver wins $5 million on Maryland Lottery scratch-off
• Winning ticket sold at 7-Eleven on Sheriff Road in Hyattsville
• Winner says he plans to buy his mother a house