Unexpected Detour Led New Jersey Driver To $600K Lottery Win

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A driver in Essex County put aside a potential case of road rage – and won $600,000 in the process. That’s the story from New Jersey Lottery officials, who recently shared some background about a scratch-off ticket sold on June 3.

According to lottery officials, the lucky winner was driving across lower Essex County on errands when they got the idea to buy a lottery ticket.

“I was on Valley Street in South Orange,” the winner remembered. “There was a car stopped there. And I was just waiting. I honked. Rather than moving, [the driver] just sat there and I could tell he was glaring at me. I did not want the drama, so I decided to pull into the 7-Eleven that was right there.”

“I said to myself: ‘Let me go get a lottery ticket,’” they added.

Drama of a much more positive kind soon ensued.

The player went in and bought a Pick-3, a Pick-4 and a $30 Colossal Crossword Scratch-Off. The two draw games paid off, winning a combined sum that topped $100.

It was the scratch-off that made all the difference though, the lucky winner recalled.

“The $600,000 is a life-changing sum, and it came at a perfect time,” they told lottery officials. “I’m at the point where it’s really great to be able to eliminate my debts and help my kids a little.”

And it’s all thanks to a case of road rage that never happened, they said.

“I’m thankful to the person that caused me to stop,” the player said. “In chaos, there’s a blessing.”

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