A Southern California man who just finished a major repair on his well-used truck won $1 million playing a California Lottery Scratcher, officials announced Wednesday.
Justin Beattie was test-driving his 300,000-miles-plus Toyota after replacing the head gasket on New Year’s Eve when he decided to cash in a set of $3-winning Scratchers at Smoke Depot in Desert Hot Springs.
Beattie added another dollar to his winnings to buy a $10 Triple Red 777 Scratcher and got in his truck to play it. After scratching his way down to the last row he got the sense he’d played a losing game when he matched the number 11.
“I only reveal the prize if I have a match,” Beattie explained to the California Lottery.
He went back into the store and couldn’t believe his eyes when the cashier verified he had matched a winning number for a $1 million prize.
Meanwhile, the Lottery announced three more Southern California residents became millionaires recently.
D. LaBounty was asked by his wife to pick up some Scratchers and discovered he’d won the $1 million prize on a $100 Million Mega Cash game Scratcher from B-1 Liquors in Palmdale.
“The universe always finds a way for us,” LaBounty said as he recounted the win.
Nicholas Amour Leon also uncovered a $1 million win playing a Triple Red 777 he picked up from the Vons on Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa.
“Last, but far from least, Jose Lopez stopped in Frankie’s Market at 4818 East Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles and left with a $2 million top prize after playing an aptly named Millionaire Maker Scratchers,” officials said.
