Two friends were getting gas when they decided to split the cost of $30 California Lottery Scratcher ticket. Now they're $10 million richer.
"I decided to scratch the ticket while I was waiting for my gas to fill up," Gerald Lillard said. "When I saw the dollar amount I thought I was reading it wrong. I thought it said I had won $10,000, but it ended up being $10 million!"
The two purchased the California Lottery's 30th Anniversary Scratcher at a local STOP n' SAVE Liquor and Groceries, located at 2549 Yosemite Boulevard in Modesto.
"I was waiting for Gerald to fill up the gas, and then I saw his face got red," Ali Muthana said. "He told me he thinks we won $10 million. We verified the ticket inside the store and went straight home. I don't even think we closed the gas cap on the truck."
Lillard and Muthana said they are both avid Lottery players.
This is Lillard's second win with a California Lottery 30th Anniversary Scratcher ticket. He said he's purchased four recently, winning $400 on his first ticket.
With this big win, Lillard said he's going to buy his mother an RV that she can drive to the mountains. Lillard, who works as a carpenter, said he'll buy some vehicles for other family member too.
"I also plan on buying a house I can remodel whenever I want," Lillard, who is a carpenter, told the California Lottery.
"I have a big family so I want to put my kids through college and maybe buy a new home," said Muthana, who works at a dollar store.
The store that sold the winning ticket is also a winner. It will receive a $50,000 retailer bonus, separate from the winner's prize.
