Store clerk picks out $500,000 winning lottery ticket

Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A Michigan man asked a store clerk to pick out a scratch-off lottery ticket for him and the selection led to a $500,000 prize.

The 55-year-old Kent County man told Michigan Lottery officials he was plagued by indecision during his visit to the Kent Mini Mart on South Main Street in Kent City.

"I buy instant tickets one or two times a month, but I don't usually play Cashword games," the player said. "I was at the store and had $10 in my pocket, so I asked the clerk to give me a $10 ticket, and he handed me this Luxury Cashword ticket."

The man said he initially thought he might have won $1,000 from the ticket.

"I took it to the store and got a message to file a claim, so I decided to take it to my uncle's house and have him look it over because he plays Cashword tickets all the time. After my uncle looked it over, he said: 'You won big!' I was pretty shocked to find out it was a $500,000 winner," he said.

The winner said his prize money will go toward buying a new house and a new truck.