THOMASVILLE, N.C. — A Thomasville truck driver decided to fill up his gas tank on Monday evening instead of the next morning to avoid the cold weather, and it paid off BIG.
Patrick Willard is looking forward to an early retirement after winning a $250,000 lottery prize.
“This is such a blessing,” Willard said. “This will let me retire in September. Then I can really start enjoying life.”
Willard bought the Carolina Black scratch-off ticket Monday night when he stopped for gas at the Sheetz on Liberty Drive in Thomasville.
“I knew it was going to be cold this morning so I decided to go after work,” Willard said. “Can you imagine what would have happened if I waited until this morning? Someone else would have gotten the ticket.”
Willard pre-paid for his gas and scratched his ticket in the store.
“I almost forgot to pump the gas I was so excited,” Willard said. “I showed it to the clerk and said, ‘Tell me if it’s true. Did I really win $250,000?’”
He sure did! Willard claimed his prize at lottery headquarters on Tuesday. After taxes, he took home over $176,000.
Congrats and happy early retirement, Patrick!
