Lorry driver wins the lottery three days after announcing plans to retire
An American lorry driver won the lottery just three days after telling his boss he was retiring.
Despite scooping $1 million – £787,165 – Paul Bashaw finished his notice period without saying a word about his good fortune to colleagues.
The 65-year-old, who comes from West Boylston in Massachusetts bought the winning ticket just days after informing his employer of over 20 years of his plans to retire at the end of the following week.
He purchased a $5,000,000 100X Cashword scratch card on 20 July and was stunned to scoop the big prize.
The lorry driver claimed his winnings at the Massachusetts Lottery headquarters in Dorchester on 28 July – his last day at work.
The former lorry driver, who turns 66 later this year, said he has seen three of his dreams come true in the last five years.
Speaking to Massachusetts Lottery, he said: ‘I told my wife there were three things in life I never thought I’d see happen:
‘The Patriots winning the Super Bowl, getting a hole in one – that happened five years ago – and hitting the lottery.
‘And now I’ve hit all three.’
He opted for a one-time payment of $650,000 (£511,608) before taxes.
The lucky winner said he plans to use some of his prize money to go travelling.
Bashaw bought his ticket at the J & J Variety store in West Boylston, which will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning scratch card.
Last month, a woman from Washtenaw County, Michigan State, won the lottery on her husband’s birthday.
Kristin Murawski, 46, had said: ‘My husband looked at the ticket and his jaw dropped.’
She matched all five numbers on the Fantasy 5 draw on 21 July, winning $288,903 – £226,026.
The lucky lady told Michigan Lottery: ‘Winning this jackpot is life-changing and makes our lives easier.
‘It means an earlier retirement for my husband and less worry about how we’ll make ends meet once we’re both retired.’
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