Ohio family celebrates life changing lottery jackpot
LORAIN, OH — A quick stop for gas to help clean up storm damage turned into a life-changing moment for an Ohio woman who followed a sudden urge to buy lottery tickets and ended up winning $1 million.
Emily, a Lorain County resident, said she visited a gas station to buy fuel for her fiancé’s chainsaw after a fallen tree damaged neighbors’ vehicles.
While standing in line, she watched another customer purchase lottery tickets and suddenly decided to do the same.
“I listened to my intuition,” the winner told Ohio Lottery officials after buying several scratch-off tickets.
Later that night, Emily scratched the tickets one by one without much luck until she reached the final game.
That last ticket changed everything.
After matching the number “2,” she realized the ticket carried a $1 million jackpot prize.
The stunned winner said she repeatedly checked the ticket because she could not believe what she was seeing.
She showed the ticket to her fiancé, who immediately urged her to return to the store to verify the prize.
Lottery officials confirmed the ticket was indeed a top-prize winner.
Emily said the timing of the win could not have been better with Mother’s Day recently passing and her birthday approaching.
She also said the prize will allow her family to finally move out of their apartment and purchase a first home.
Her son is especially excited about having his own room and a yard, she said.
The winner selected the lump-sum cash option worth $500,000 and will receive approximately $366,250 after state and federal taxes.
The winning $1,000,000 Holiday Wish scratch-off ticket was sold at Valero #048511 located on Oberlin Avenue in Lorain.
Ohio Lottery officials said one top prize remains in the game as of May 13.
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Key Points
• Lorain County woman won $1 million on Ohio scratch-off ticket
• Winner bought ticket after sudden impulse at gas station
• Prize will help family purchase first home