Kentucky man wins $1 million lottery ticket during emergency fuel stop

A Kentucky man made an emergency stop at a gas station with only $40 in his pocket. Having spent all his money, he left with $20 worth of fuel in his tank and more than half a million in hand.

Michael Schlemmer of Corbin, Kentucky, spent $20 on a “$1,000,000 Luck” scratch-off card from the Kentucky Lottery at a convenience food mart on U.S. Highway 25 West. She said Schlemmer’s car “coasted” into the gas station because it was low on fuel. Statement.

The Kentuckian realized he had hit the jackpot after returning to his car. As he scratched the ticket, a million-dollar sign appeared: he had won the top scratch-off card prize.

Schlemmer ran into the store to tell the mini-mart employees, who were “smiling” at the news.

“Nothing crossed my mind,” Schlemmer said. “I just got up and went back into the store and showed them. I don’t believe it until I get the check.”

Earlier this month, Schlemmer picked up a $616,330 check from Kentucky Lottery headquarters. That’s the total value of his $862,000 lottery payout, minus taxes.

Lottery grand prize winners can choose to take a lump sum payment or withdrawal. A series of annual paymentswhich equates to higher payments made over a longer period of time.

Schlemmer plans to buy a “new” car with the money. He will put the rest of his winnings in the bank.

“I told the dealership I was waiting for a big check to come in and then I hit it,” Shelmer said.

Schlemmer isn’t the only person getting rich from winning ticket sales. The convenience store where he bought the ticket will also receive $8,620, the Kentucky Lottery said in a statement.

The Kentucky Lottery funds educational programs, grants and scholarships for Kentuckians, of the agency website The odds of winning a States scratch ticket million dollar prize are not stated on the site, only that a player’s odds of winning change with each ticket sold. The odds of winning any of the multiple prizes from a scratch-off ticket are 1 in 3.57. The Lottery has raised more than $4.4 billion in funding since 1999.