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But a few hours later, the North Carolina man checked his lottery tickets and found that he had won a $ 2 million Mega Millions prize.
Dowe was on his way to work on Saturday – the day after the $ 1 billion prize draw – when he collided with the deer in his Kia K5 2021, North Carolina Educational Lottery officials said.
“So I got mad, I came home, I lay down and went to sleep,” he said in a note on Tuesday. “So I woke up and checked my tickets.
“I checked the fourth ticket and saw the ‘4’ and then the next number and the next number and the next number. I was like, ‘Wow!’ It was crazy. “
Dowe ended up hitting all five white balls – winning 1 in 12.6 million chances – to win the $ 1 million prize. It was doubled to $ 2 million when the 2X Megaplier was drawn.
“I went and showed my dad and mom and everyone was happy,” he said in the statement.
Dowe claimed his prize on Monday and took home $ 1.4 million after state and federal tax withholdings.
The Mega Millions jackpot winning ticket was sold at a Kroger store in Novi, Michigan, according to a Mega Millions press release.
Dowe plans to spend the money on repairs to his parents’ home, to pay for his niece’s car and to protect his savings, he said, according to the statement.
He will also fix his own new car, he said – and pay for it.