A million-dollar text message

Drawing Date: 7/21/2017

September 7, 2017 - Dana Nystrand was a bit annoyed when Matt Hazzard texted asking her to pick up a lottery ticket and a pizza. She went ahead and bought five Mega Millions tickets for the July 21 drawing.

It turns out that one of those tickets won Mega Millions’ second prize of $1 million.

She discovered she had a winning ticket the next morning, when she checked the winning numbers: 18-31-36-50-74, and the Mega Ball number 10. Her ticket matched the first five of those numbers, missing only the Mega Ball number.

She texted him, saying “I need to talk to you. I think we won a million dollars!”

He replied, “Why are you texting? We’re in the same house.”
 
On September 7, the Richmond, Va., couple returned to the store where the ticket was bought, Corner Mart at 4027 West Broad Street in Richmond, to receive their checks from the Virginia Lottery. The store received a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

She used Easy Pick and allowed the computer to randomly select the numbers on the ticket. This was one of just five tickets nationwide to match the first five numbers in that drawing and the only one in Virginia.

Mr. Hazzard, who is an attorney, said he intends to pay off his student loans. Ms. Nystrand, a marketing professional, said they may also take a vacation.