Man Makes Wrong Turn, Wins $1 Million at Hudson Valley Store
A man who made a wrong turn while enjoying the scenic Hudson Valley is now a $1 million lotto winner.
On Friday, the New York Lottery’s Yolanda Vega presented LaShawn Carter with his $1,000,000 lottery prize at the store where he purchased his lucky ticket.
The 41-year-old man from Troy purchased his jackpot-winning Gold Bar 7s ticket at the Cumberland Farms on Main Street in Hunter during a trip to the area with his wife.
“I wanted to show my wife the falls, so we took a day trip,” Carter told the New York Lottery. “I took a wrong turn, so I stopped at Cumberland Farms for some snacks and bought the ticket while I was there.”
Carter decided to receive his $1,000,000 prize as a one-time lump sum payment. He will receive a net check totaling $510,568 after required withholdings, according to the New York Lottery.
"I’ll use the money to pay for my children’s education and buy a new house," he said. "I also plan to take the family on a nice vacation."
Carter is the 77th New York Lottery player to claim a prize totaling $1,000,000 or more this year, officials say.