Man checks lottery ticket he bought in Maryland. Then ‘adrenaline really kicked in

An electrical estimator always dreamed of taking home a “big cash prize,” Maryland officials said.

Then it actually happened, according to an Aug. 19 news release by the Maryland Lottery.

The Caroline County man went to get coffee and gas in Denton when he came across the $20 $500,000 Crossword scratch-off, officials said.

He had no idea he’d win the second-tier prize of $50,000, officials said.

“I usually pick tickets randomly when I play,” he told officials. “But when I saw that top prize, the $500,000, I knew what I wanted.”

The man usually plays the lottery two or three times a month when “he gets the urge” while on his way home from work, officials said.

“It was a huge rush,” he said in the release. “The adrenaline really kicked in when I saw the $50,000 prize. Just a huge surprise.”

As for the winnings, the man said all of the money will go straight into his bank, officials said.

The lucky winner’s prize means there are five $50,000 prizes left to be claimed, officials said.

Denton is about a 70-mile drive southeast of Baltimore.

This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 10:59 AM with the headline "Man checks lottery ticket he bought in Maryland. Then ‘adrenaline really kicked in."