Gregory Warren, a mechanic in Franklinville, picked up a lottery on Cash 5 for the drawing on Sept. 29 while filling up with gas a day after work.
He first checked the ticket on Monday, October 4th. That was when Warren realized he was winning half of a $ 391,870 jackpot.
“I forgot,” Warren said Tuesday as he collected his prize at the North Carolina Education Lottery headquarters in Raleigh. “I’m still a little shocked. I did not get much sleep last night. Too much excitement!”
After federal and state tax deductions, he walked away with a cool $ 138,624.
“I think I’m getting started mowing yards,” Warren said. “I have a 14-year-old son and I want to start a business so he gets something to do when he finishes high school.”
The other half of the jackpot went to a woman in New Bern.
The chances of Warren winning a Cash 5 jackpot? Lottery officials said it is 1 in 962,598.