FREDERICK, Md. — Lottery luck struck for Annette Smith, a dedicated lottery player from West Virginia, when she purchased a Maryland Lottery Pick 5 ticket that won her $50,000.

Annette, originally from Maryland, is an avid player of various lottery games, including scratch-offs, Mega Millions, Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5. Despite living in West Virginia, she has been crossing state lines for years to participate in Maryland’s lottery games, hoping for a big win during challenging economic times.

On July 21, Annette made her routine stop at the Wawa on 1001 West Patrick Street in Frederick to grab her morning coffee before heading to work. During this visit, she decided to buy a few Pick 5 tickets, selecting combinations based on her birthday numbers. One of her $1 straight bet tickets for the midday drawing, featuring the numbers 80578, turned out to be a $50,000 winner.

Annette discovered her win after work by checking the Maryland Lottery website. Overcome with disbelief and excitement, she rushed home to share the news with her husband, shouting with joy. “I never imagined winning such a big prize,” she said. “It felt like a birthday gift coming early!”

Annette plans to save and invest her prize money wisely. Although she has no immediate plans for the funds, the unexpected windfall is a welcome financial boost. Her enthusiasm for playing the lottery remains strong: “Without a doubt, I’ll keep playing. I hope I can win again!”

The Wawa store that sold the winning ticket will also receive a $500 Lottery bonus, celebrating the sale of a $50,000-winning Pick 5 ticket.

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