03 January 2024 , 17:15
555
0
A couple almost didn't win $100,000 when they tried to purchase a lottery product that was sold out.
70-year-old Karmen Lawrence of Des Moines, Iowa, is celebrating a windfall of $100,000 (£79,105) after her husband, Mike Lawrence, decided to grab a 'Hit It Big' scratchcard when their initial choice was unavailable.
The Iowa Lottery said that Karmen secured the fifth top prize in the "Hit It Big!" scratch game. A statement from the Iowa Lottery obtained by Newsflash recounted the serendipitous moment: "Her big win almost didn't happen: Her husband planned to buy a ticket in a different $10 scratch game, but the store was sold out."
READ MORE: 'Guaranteed' method of winning lottery in 2024 with mathematicians' simple ticket trick
Karmen Lawrence from Des Moines, Iowa, scratched off a ticket her husband bought for her and won $100,000 (Newsflash)The unexpected change in plan led to a life-changing moment for the couple. Karmen Lawrence shared her excitement with lottery officials, stating, "I started scratching, and pretty soon, he said, 'How are you doing?' I said, 'I think I won $100,000!'"
Woman was 'adamant' she would win top lottery prize - then pockets $200,000
Mike Lawrence, who purchased the fortuitous ticket at Git N Go in Des Moines, recounted the decision to switch scratchcards: "The cashier said they didn't have that one, so I said, 'OK, give me the Hit It Big! ticket. We'll try that, maybe.'"
For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
The Lawrences have already outlined their plans for the unexpected windfall. Karmen revealed that part of the winnings would be used to pay off their vehicles, with the rest being wisely saved for the future. According to the Iowa Lottery statement, "Hit It Big! is a $10 scratch game that features 10 top prizes of $100,000 and overall odds of 1 in 2.96."
It comes after a lucky lottery player started 2024 with a bang, winning an enormous $842.4million (£665m) Powerball jackpot on New Year's Day. The winner from Michigan is the first person to bag the top prize on New Year's Day since the game began in 1992. The winning numbers were: 12, 21, 42, 44, 49 and red Powerball: 1.
It is not known who the lucky ticket holder is yet, but they can choose between a yearly payout of $842.4 million over 30 years, or a one-off payment of $425.2 million (£336m). Both options are before taxes.
Before the draw, it was thought that the jackpot was $810 million, but final ticket sales pushed it up to $842.4 million. This makes it the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot and the 10th-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won.