GREENSBORO, N.C. (WFMY)-- — How life changing is winning a million dollars that you almost trashed? A Greensboro couple can answer that for you.
James Strickland and Teresa McCallister are the lucky couple who won $1 million playing the Extreme Millions scratch-off game, but the good fortune almost didn't happen.
Strickland says he has a routine of throwing tickets that he didn't win onto his car's floorboard. He checks them again at the end of the week.
While going through the stack, Strickland said he discovered the $30 ticket was actually a winner! "I was all ecstatic and shaky," Strickland told lottery officials.
Stricklnd and McCallister chose the lump sum option and collected $423, 014 after taxes.
Their plans for the windfall include paying off bills and a bass boat. Strickland told lottery officials he has wanted a bass boat for years and years. In fact, he said, it was his dream buy whenever he thought about winning the lottery.
Moral of the story: Check your tickets once more before trashing them.
