‘I needed an ambulance,’ cries lottery winner after winning $225k jackpot – but he immediately lost $63k as soon as he claimed it

A TRUCK driver has shared his joy and shock after winning $225,000 in the lottery.

The Mississippi man said it felt like he needed an ambulance when he found out he had won.

A routine pit stop proved to be a very fateful moment for Tommy Hinton of Mississippi when he purchased a ticket to the Kentucky 100X lottery scratch card.

While taking his regular vacation at the Pilot Travel Center in Madisonville, he purchased three tickets.

The truck driver decided to scratch them right there in the store.

“One of the winning numbers was three and I saw that I had the number three. I scratched it and saw the amount,” Hinton said. Kentucky Lottery.

“I was speechless. I was thinking, ‘Oh no. No way. No way.'”

He then examined the scratch-off on the ticket checker to confirm that he had indeed won $225,000.

“I had this ‘oh man’ look on my face,” Hinton told lottery officials.

“The clerk asked me if I was okay and if I needed an ambulance.

“I said ‘No’ and showed her the amount on the machine. Her eyes widened and became as big as saucers.”

However, Hinton didn’t take home the full jackpot.

After taxes, the prize was reduced to $162,000.

With what he earned, the driver plans to pay bills, do some renovations on the house and donate it to his church.

“I intend to act like I don’t have it,” he said. “I’m blessed.”

Meanwhile, Pilot Travel Center will receive $2,250 from ticket sales.

OTHER LUCKY WINNERS

Hinton isn’t the only one to be surprised by an unexpected lottery win lately.

Top US Lottery Winners

Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.

• Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, November 8, 2022, in California.
• Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, October 11, 2023, California.
• Unknown Winner – $1.602 Billion, Mega Millions, August 8, 2023, Florida.
• Marvin and Mae Acosta of Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson of Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt of Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016.
• Unknown Winner – $1.537 Billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
• Winner unknown – he sued his child’s mother to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, January 13, 2023, from Maine.
• Unknown Winner – $1.337 Billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
• Cheng and Duanpen Saephan and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
• Yanira Álvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
• Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 Billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021, from Michigan.
• Winner unknown – $842.4 million Powerball, January 1, 2024, from Michigan.

In Florida, Scottie Grant scored his second $1,000,000 scratch-off win in just six months.

“I went back!” Grant said as he claimed his latest prize at Florida Lottery headquarters.

He won seven-figure sums in the 500X THE CASH game, which costs $50 per ticket.

In both victories, Grant was able to keep $820,000 after paying federal taxes.

Remember that playing the lottery is a form of gambling and must be done responsibly.

If you or someone you know is showing signs of gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling website.