A Calvert County man came within days of missing out on a $50,400 lottery prize after discovering his winning ticket just before the claim deadline. The retired food service worker and loyal Lottery player uncovered the forgotten ticket while checking a file container, narrowly avoiding losing the life-changing sum.
The Southern Maryland resident, who dedicates a small amount of his weekly budget to playing Lottery games, purchased the winning ticket for the July 12 Bonus Match 5 drawing at the Shell gas station located at 20943 Point Lookout Road in Callaway. His $4 investment in six boards paid off when one set of numbers matched all five drawn, earning him the $50,000 top prize. An additional quick-pick board matched four numbers, adding another $400 to his total.
The man routinely saves any winning tickets but admits to occasionally misplacing or losing them. In this instance, his diligence in rechecking the container before the 182-day claim deadline proved to be critical. Now retired from the food service industry, he plans to use his winnings to pay bills and bolster his savings.
The Shell station in Callaway where the ticket was purchased also benefitted from the win. As the retailer of the $50,000 top-prize ticket, the store received a $500 Lottery bonus.
The winner’s story serves as a cautionary tale for other Lottery players to double-check their tickets regularly. With significant prizes on the line, players are reminded to store tickets in a safe, memorable location and verify their numbers after each drawing to ensure no winnings go unclaimed.
