07-05-2025
Lottery player runs into the street after winning jackpot in MI. ‘Feels unreal'
National Lottery player runs into the street after winning jackpot in MI. 'Feels unreal'
A Michigan man plans to take good care of his family after winning a big lottery jackpot.
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A Michigan lottery player ran out into the street after realizing he won a multimillion-dollar jackpot, officials say.
The 43-year-old Van Buren County man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, bought several Lotto 47 tickets 'on a whim' at a gas station in Kalamazoo, because the prize was just too good not to take a chance, lottery officials said in a May 7 news release.
'When I saw the jackpot was over $5 million, I told my family: 'That money is going to be mine!'' the man said.
When the April 23 drawing came around and his prediction came true, it was enough to send him running out the door and down the street.
'I checked the winning numbers online that night after the drawing and recognized them instantly. I had to recheck the numbers several times after seeing I matched them all because it was so surreal,' he told officials.
'My wife didn't know what was going on, so my daughter said to her: 'I think dad just won the Lottery!'' he said. 'Winning a prize like this feels unreal and is still sinking in.'
He went to lottery headquarters to pick up his prize and opted to receive annual payments of $182,000 for 30 years, instead of an instant one-time sum of $3.7 million.
'With his winnings, he plans to take care of his family,' officials said.
Kalamazoo is about a 50-mile drive south from Grand Rapids.
MW Mitchell Willetts
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Mitchell Willetts is a real-time news reporter covering the central U.S. for McClatchy. He is a University of Oklahoma graduate and outdoors enthusiast living in Texas.
