Traffic Detour Leads to $1 Million Lotto Prize

Jul. 01, 2024

A bridge closed for construction is normally viewed as an inconvenience, but that’s not the way one lucky Missouri Lottery player sees it after winning half of a $2 million Lotto jackpot prize.

“The bridge was out so I had to go the other way,” the winner said.

The disruption in his route meant he passed by Trex Mart 2, 15590 Highway 92, in Tracy. This small change would turn into a big win when he decided to go in and buy a Lotto ticket for the June 15 drawing.

“The first time I ever played Lotto was last year,” the winner added. “So I just decided to stop by and went in, and that was that.”

The next day, he checked his numbers while he was making dinner.

“I saw the 35 at the end and then I saw the 33 and I thought, ‘Oh boy, we’re on to something!’” he said.

His ticket matched all six winning numbers – 3, 9, 15, 27, 33 and 35 – to win the jackpot prize. Another ticket also matched all six numbers in the June 15 drawing, so the two players split the $2 million prize. The other winning ticket was purchased at Price Chopper, 1305 N. 7 Highway, in Blue Springs.

“It was just unbelievable!” he said. “I never would have gone in there if that bridge wasn’t closed.”

Lotto is an in-state Draw Game, with drawings held every Wednesday and Saturday evening at 8:59 p.m. This Wednesday’s Lotto jackpot is estimated at $1.4 million.

In FY23, players in Platte County won more than $15.7 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received nearly than $1.4 million in commissions and bonuses, and more than $1 million in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.