‘I couldn’t believe it’: Man wins $1 million in North Carolina lottery with scratch-off ticket

ERWIN, N.C. (WNCN) — A North Carolina man has won $1 million with a scratch-off ticket purchase in Harnett County, officials said Friday.

Frederick Perry of Erwin said he plans on buying a new home after his $10 ticket in the Ultimate Dash game hit big, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Perry said in a news release from lottery officials. “I just got lucky I guess.”

Perry said he also plans to buy a new pickup truck with his winnings, which he picked up Thursday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh.

Perry bought his lucky Ultimate Dash ticket from the Triton Quick Mart on East Jackson Boulevard in Erwin.

“I’ve been playing that same game ever since it came out,” he said, adding that he often reads about other big lottery winners.

“I always said, ‘That’s going to be me one day,’” Perry said.

The Ultimate Dash game began in April with six top prizes of $1 million. Two $1 million prizes remain to be claimed.

With the win, Perry had to choose between an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000.

He chose the lump sum of $600,000 and took home $429,003 after taxes.

Harnett County received a $10 million state grant, with money raised by the lottery, to help build a new elementary school, according to the N.C. Education Lottery.

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