A woman from Medora, Illinois, who made a spontaneous decision to purchase an extra US Mega Millions ticket, picked up $1 million check last week.
Cindy Thurm is regular Mega Millions player, but she usually only buys a single $1 Quick Pick ticket. When she went to purchase a ticket for the Tuesday, October 7, 2014, drawing Thurm felt and impulsion to take an extra bite at the cherry and purchased a second Quick Pick.
"On a whim, for no particular reason, I bought another one. I can't believe I won a million dollars with that ticket," Thurm told Illinois Lottery officials on Friday as they presented her with a large ceremonial check.
Thurm's second Quick Pick matched all five of the Mega Millions numbers drawn of October 7, but failed to match the Mega Ball. If she'd managed to match the Mega Ball as well she would have scooped the $136 million jackpot.
She discovered she'd hit it lucky the day after the draw, during a telephone conversation with her daughter who lives in Texas.
Thurm's daughter mentioned she'd seen a Facebook posting about a Medora gas station that had sold a $1 million-winning ticket.
"My daughter called to ask if I had checked my ticket and then she read the winning numbers to me," Thurm explained. "When I checked my second ticket and saw that it matched five numbers, I started screaming into the phone—and into her ear."
When asked about her plans for the money, Thurm said she intends to pay off her mortgage and make some investments.
Mega Millions is the biggest jackpot game in America. Jackpots start at $15 million and other prizes ranging from $1 to a cool $1 million! Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 23:00 (ET). The next drawing is on Tuesday, November 11, 2014. The Estimated jackpot is $20 million.
