In an unexpected turn of events a Virginia-based trucker discovered he was a millionaire while on a long-haul journey to Texas. The driver, Berhane Meharena, was holding a winning ticket worth a staggering $1 million from the Virginia Lottery’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle.
The Long Road to Riches
Meharena, who hails from Arlington Virginia, didn’t verify his raffle ticket until he was deep in the heart of Texas. To his surprise he found that he would have to make the lengthy trek back to Virginia to claim his winnings. Nevertheless, the prospect of returning as a millionaire made the journey seem worthwhile.
While in his truck Meharena decided to cross-check the winning numbers for the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle. To his sheer delight he found out his ticket was one of five that had won the $1 million jackpot.
“I was all alone in the truck,” Meharena recalled in a conversation with Lottery officials. “I couldn’t help but scream with joy!” Overflowing with excitement, Meharena immediately planned his return trip to Virginia to cash in his golden ticket.
A Slight Detour on the Path to Riches
Despite the thrilling news Meharena encountered a minor setback upon reaching Virginia. He fell ill and had to delay his visit to the Lottery office in Woodbridge to stake his claim. Once he regained his health he promptly presented his winning ticket.
“This has indeed been a lucky year!” the jubilant winner exclaimed.
Meharena had purchased the winning raffle ticket #485284 at Harris Teeter on South George Mason Drive in Arlington. When asked about his plans for the windfall he confessed that he hadn’t quite decided yet.
Other Lucky Winners
In addition to Meharena the New Year’s Millionaire Raffle produced four more $1 million winners. The winning tickets were sold across Virginia, in Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Manassas, and Stafford.
The raffle also awarded seven tickets with a handsome $100,000 each. Furthermore, there were several $1,000 tickets that bagged $500 apiece. Among the winners was an environmental chemist, who claimed his significant prize in January, marking his second win in the annual raffle.
The Virginia Lottery
The Virginia Lottery features an exciting range of games for residents to try their luck at and possibly win big. Whether you’re a fan of instant-win games or prefer the anticipation of draw games there’s something for everyone.
Scratcher games offer immediate gratification with a variety of themes and prize levels. Players can buy tickets with potential winnings running into millions. Some other popular scratcher games include Cash Blast, Millionaire Maker, and Win a Spin.
For those who enjoy the thrill of draw games the Virginia Lottery hosts an array of options like Mega Millions, Powerball, and Cash4Life. Moreover, there are daily draw games like Pick 3, Pick 4, and Cash 5. These games offer multi-state and in-state draws respectively with jackpots that can reach incredible amounts.
