Missed scratch-off turns into $50K win after ticket sits untouched for weeks
EMMITSBURG, Md. — A quick roadside stop nearly turned into a missed opportunity after a scratch-off ticket sat untouched for weeks — until a reminder changed everything.
A Pennsylvania truck driver, David Costella of Gettysburg, picked up two scratch-off tickets during a stop at a Rutter’s on Taneytown Pike while traveling with family earlier this month.
Then he forgot about them.
The tickets sat untouched for nearly two weeks before his wife came across them while cleaning and urged him to check them.
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What happened next caught everyone off guard.
As Costella scratched one of the tickets, his wife noticed something unusual and asked if he was winning.
Unsure of what he was seeing, he passed the ticket to his daughter, who scanned it using the Maryland Lottery app.
That’s when it became real.
The ticket was worth $50,000.
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Costella later said the moment didn’t fully sink in until he arrived at lottery headquarters in Baltimore to claim the prize.
The winning ticket came from the $5 Money Maker scratch-off game, which still has several top prizes remaining.
For Costella, what started as a routine stop for food turned into a memory his family won’t forget — and a win that may help fund a future vacation.
Key Points
- Ticket sat unchecked for nearly two weeks before discovery
- Family realized win after scanning ticket on lottery app
- $50K prize came from roadside stop during trip
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