A last-second decision to stop at a convenience store instead of heading home turned into a $50,000 Powerball payday for a Carroll County father.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A Sykesville father says he almost skipped buying a Powerball ticket before making a last-second stop at a convenience store that ultimately earned him a $50,000 prize.
The Carroll County resident, who chose to remain anonymous and used the nickname “Mr. Positive,” claimed the prize after matching enough numbers in the June 13 Powerball drawing to win the game’s third-tier prize.
The car wash attendant said he typically buys a Powerball ticket about once a week but had not planned to play after stopping for gas following work.
“As I was waiting for the tank to fill, I remembered that it was a Powerball night,” he told Maryland Lottery officials. “Powerball is the game I play the most.”
Even then, he nearly left without buying a ticket.
“At the last second, I parked at the convenience store and went in. I was so close to just leaving,” he said.
A few days later, he scanned the ticket and received a message instructing him to take it to the Lottery.
“I thought the machine was broken,” he said.
After receiving the same message at another retailer the following day, a store clerk explained that it meant he had won a prize too large to be redeemed at a lottery retailer.
When he learned the ticket was worth $50,000, he said he was stunned.
“I was excited when she told me that, but I didn’t fully believe it,” he said.
He recalled being speechless for nearly a minute after realizing the size of the prize.
The winning ticket was purchased at Sykesville Convenience Store, located at 887 Sandosky Road in Sykesville.
Key Points
- A Sykesville father won $50,000 in the June 13 Powerball drawing.
- He said he almost drove away before deciding at the last second to buy the winning ticket.
- The winning ticket was sold at Sykesville Convenience Store on Sandosky Road.