Thirsty stop leads to surprise scratch-off win that left Harford County man stunned
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — A quick stop for a drink turned into something far more memorable after a scratch-off ticket left a Harford County man questioning what he was seeing.
The retired U.S. Army veteran said he picked up the ticket during a routine stop at a convenience store on Revolution Street — something he does regularly.
What he didn’t expect was what came next.
After scanning the ticket, he froze.
“I just stared at the scanner,” he said. “I didn’t believe it, didn’t believe what I was seeing. Still don’t.”
The ticket revealed a $50,000 win.
The player, who said he typically sticks to scratch-offs, explained that he prefers them because he can check results immediately. While he occasionally buys Powerball or Mega Millions tickets, instant games are his go-to.
This particular ticket — from the $5,000,000 Fortune game — wasn’t even part of his usual routine.
He said he buys a higher-priced ticket about once a month, and this time, a craving led him to stop at EZ Quick Food — a decision that ended up paying off.
“I never would have found this ticket if I hadn’t really wanted that Coke,” he said.
The game still has major prizes remaining, including a top prize still in circulation.
For one Harford County player, though, this unexpected stop was more than enough.
Key Points
- Routine stop for a drink led to winning scratch-off ticket
- Player said he didn’t believe result after scanning ticket
- $50,000 prize came from $5,000,000 Fortune game
