Woman nearly tosses away life changing lottery ticket
Rocky Mount, VA — A routine cleanup of her car led to a six-figure surprise for a Franklin County woman who nearly tossed away a winning Powerball ticket worth $100,000.
Amber Callaway had purchased the ticket at 40 West Food Fare on Franklin Street in Rocky Mount but didn’t check it right away. Days later, while clearing out her vehicle, she came across several tickets and decided to scan them before throwing them out.
One of those tickets turned out to be a winner.
Callaway matched four of the first five numbers along with the Powerball number in the March 21 drawing, a combination typically worth $50,000. Because she added the Power Play option when purchasing the ticket, her prize doubled to $100,000.
The winning numbers for that drawing were 12, 28, 36, 41, and 59, with a Powerball of 2. She selected her own numbers.
When claiming the prize, Callaway told lottery officials she initially questioned whether she had read the numbers correctly.
Callaway, who works in medical billing, said she plans to use the money to pay bills and share with family members.
Powerball drawings are held three times a week, and while the odds of hitting the jackpot remain steep, smaller prizes like this continue to generate winners across the state.
Virginia Lottery officials noted that proceeds support K-12 education statewide, including millions directed annually to local school systems.
Key Points
- Virginia woman found $100,000 winning ticket while cleaning car
- Power Play option doubled prize from $50,000 to $100,000
- Ticket purchased at Rocky Mount convenience store
