A North Carolina mechanic was on the way to a landfill to dump some trash when he decided to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket.
It was a move that turned out to be golden, as the 52-year-old grandfather won the top prize in the $10 million Colossal Cash scratch off jackpot, according to a North Carolina Education Lottery news release.
Now, he can buy his dream home and spoil his grandchildren.
Theodore Duncan, of Oxford, appeared at lottery headquarters in Raleigh to collect his prize after his $30 scratch-off produced the big winner. Duncan took the lump sum option, which means that after taxes he will take home $4,245,009.
“I always told people that one day I’d hit the lottery,” Duncan said after receiving his check. “Today’s that day. It feels so good.”
Duncan bought the winning ticket at the Berea Mini Mart in Oxford, according to the lottery release.
“When I saw the money symbol I knew I won something,” Duncan said at lottery headquarters. “When I scratched off the prize I couldn’t believe it. I was so shocked I couldn’t drive. I had to call my brother to come get me.
"I said, 'I won, I won, I won," he said. "I panicked, I just looked down at it."
Duncan said he was going to retire and buy a new home.
“I’ve already got it picked out,” he said.
“I’m 52, and now that I’ve won this, I can finally stop working,” Duncan said. “I’m going to retire and get a brand new three-bedroom house with a big pool. I’m also going to use some of the money to spoil my 12 grandkids.”
He also plans to donate $100,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, WRAL reported.
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