Detour and patience turn into $1 million win for New Jersey lottery player

A detour and a little patience led to a $1 million payout for one Mega Millions player last month.

On September 20, a New Jersey lottery player found himself off his usual New Jersey Turnpike route and at a gas station in Edison.

“I thought I might as well get a couple of tickets, two Mega Millions, two Powerballs and two Pick-6s,” the winner recently told the New Jersey Lottery. “But there was a man standing in front of me playing all kinds of games. things. I didn’t want to stay, but I thought: ‘let me wait.’ “

The winner was not someone who regularly checked his tickets immediately. He was stunned when one of his Mega Millions tickets, purchased at the R&J Fuel on Route 1 in South Edison, hit all five white balls during the Sept. 21 drawing.

“When the numbers came in, I thought it was too good to be true,” the winner told the lottery. “I looked at the numbers and couldn’t believe it. I checked it again and (asked a family member) to check it again. This is crazy.”

More: Mega Millions prize will increase to $5 per ticket in the spring

What will the new millionaire do with the money?

“I’m in a daze – I’m still dreaming, but I’m still the same person,” said the winner, who plans to spend the money on his retirement and caring for his family.

In New Jersey, lottery winners are allowed to remain anonymous under a law signed by Governor Phil Murphy.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Lottery Player Wins $1 Million in Mega Millions