INDIANAPOLIS —
A Vermillion County man found himself in a scenario that strikes fear in the heart of Lottery players everywhere. He threw away a $50,000 winning lottery ticket.
After a weird chain of events, Ernest “Ernie” Scott III of Clinton was able to discover his win, dig his ticket out of the trash, dry it out and collect his winnings at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters on Tuesday.
When I looked at the ticket covered in coffee, I couldn’t help but tease Ernie,” said Hoosier Lottery Security Investigator Brian Morris. “I told him to find a better coaster.”
Scott’s winning Lucky 5 “trash-can ticket” matched all five numbers in the Feb. 2 evening Lucky 5 drawing. The problem is that when Scott initially checked his ticket online he mistakenly thought it wasn’t a winner.
“I don’t know what I did, or what I looked at, but for some reason I thought it was no good and I threw it away,” said Scott.
This is where the story gets weird and where the line between good and bad luck blurs. The next day, a friend of Scott’s called to tell Scott that the numbers Scott plays in a different Hoosier Lottery game, Daily 3, had just been drawn.
“My buddy called to tell me that my numbers 8-2-4 came up in Daily 3. He knows I play 8-2-4 in Daily 3,” said Scott. “But I hadn’t played that day.”
Aggravated at his bad luck and annoyed that he hadn’t purchased a Daily 3 ticket for the one drawing when his numbers were finally drawn, Scott hopped online to check the Daily 3 numbers for himself to make sure his buddy wasn’t pulling his leg. He had no idea how serendipitous an endeavor this would prove to be.
Scott was scanning the Hoosier Lottery homepage for the Daily 3 numbers when a different set of winning numbers for a different Hoosier Lottery game caught his eye.
There, on the screen, listed as the winning Lucky 5 numbers for Feb. 2, were the five Lucky 5 numbers he had been playing for months: 5-7-14-18-28. He knew the numbers by heart because they are a combination of his wife and four children’s birth dates. He knew they were the numbers he’d played that day.
He also knew he had thrown the ticket away.
“He was sitting at the computer mumbling and mumbling. I couldn’t tell what he was saying,” said Scott’s wife, Kathy. ”Finally I saw what he was looking at and I said ‘did you win the Lottery?’ and he said, ‘I threw the ticket away.’”
The whole family scrambled to the kitchen to retrieve the ticket from the trash, which had thankfully not been taken out.
The ticket was buried under coffee grounds. It was soggy and stained, but all information necessary to validate the ticket was intact and readable. The couple dried it out and presented it to Lottery officials Tuesday morning. The winnings from the win-that-almost-wasn’t are now safely in the bank.
The Scotts hope to use their “trash-can winnings” to build a garage and take their kids to Florida. As for the friend who’s phone call prompted the discovery of the win, the Scott’s say they plan to treat him to a steak dinner as a show of gratitude.
Scott works in manufacturing. He purchased his winning ticket at Casey’s at 1501 N. Ninth St. in Clinton, which is a town of about 4,800 people in far west-central Indiana, near the Illinois border. He and his wife have four children ranging in age from 6 to 13 years old.
The Hoosier Lottery reminds all players to play responsibly, to always check their tickets carefully and to always sign the back of their tickets.
News
Clinton man throws away $50,000 Hoosier Lottery ticket
- News
-
-
The closing of St. Ann Parish: Shuttered parish will help others live on
St. Ann Parish celebrated its last Mass on Sunday.
-
Foreclosure lawsuit questions dog mayor
Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett said Tuesday he is “100 percent” certain the foreclosure suit filed against him by GMAC Mortgage on his eastside home will be resolved within the next “couple of weeks.”
-
TB case cause for concern, not panic
A suspected case of tuberculosis at a Vigo County middle school is cause for concern, but health officials are taking appropriate precautionary steps, says Union Hospital’s chief medical officer
Dr. John Bolinger said the suspected TB case at Woodrow Wilson Middle School “is a concern,” but Vigo County and state health departments “are there to handle situations like this. They’ll do the right thing.” -
Woodgate residents considering legal action
Residents came in force Tuesday to try to compel the Vigo County Board of Commissioners to change how a development is progressing near Woodgate subdivisions in southern Vigo County.
-
Clay County soldier dies in Afghanistan
A 27-year-old Knightsville resident and Northview High School graduate died Monday from a rocket propelled grenade attack in Afghanistan while serving with the Indiana National Guard.
-
Farmersburg man arrested on rape charge
A Farmersburg man has been arrested on suspicion of rape and criminal confinement after a May 4 incident that allegedly occurred at his parents’ residence.
-
Truck driver in double fatal crash identified
A truck driver killed in a crash on Interstate 70 in Vigo County last Wednesday has been identified as Alfonso Ochoa Diaz, 60, River Rouge, Mich.
-
Two arrested on reckless driving charges
Indiana State Police on Tuesday nabbed two drivers accused of reckless driving in northern Vermillion County.
-
Garfield Towers resident, injured in fire, dies
A man who sustained burns in the Garfield Towers fire has died at an Indianapolis hospital.
-
18-year-old mother charged with child neglect after infant injured
An 18-year-old mother has been charged with child neglect related to injuries sustained by a Terre Haute infant in April.
-
Gregg introduces State Sen. Vi Simpson as choice for lieutenant governor
Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg this afternoon introduced State Sen. Vi Simpson, D-Ellettsville, as his running mate for the 2012 election.
-
Car pinned under school bus in Greene County crash
Police say a car plowed into the back of a school bus stopped on a southern Indiana highway, with the car’s entire engine compartment ending up lodged underneath the bus.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 23, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Monday and Tuesday, based on jail records.
-
Grrrr-ateful for donation
K-9 Officers Jasper, Luka, Diesel and Carón didn’t like the snarls and growls coming from a “burglar” on Monday morning at Sarah Scott Middle School.
-
Plan chugging along to ease ‘railroading’
A 20-year railroad corridor study approved last week sets the stage for Terre Haute and Vigo County to obtain funding for at least two railroad overpasses in the next 13 years. It also includes, within two years, installing an intelligent transportation system, which would notify an emergency vehicle of a train’s location.
-
After possible TB case, school faces health tests
A suspected case of tuberculosis at Woodrow Wilson Middle School has prompted health authorities to provide free TB testing next Tuesday for students and staff at the eastside Terre Haute school.
-
Fallen Officer Long gains largest THPD honors
Officer Brent Long, who died last summer in the line of duty, was named Terre Haute Police Officer of the Year at Monday night’s THPD Recognition and Commendation dinner.
-
1,261.5 Miles Per Gallon
A Terre Haute South Vigo High School team earned first place in the “unlimited class” category during the 17th Super Mileage Challenge April 30 in Indianapolis.
-
Arson suspected in Collett Park restroom fire
Investigation continues into a fire believed to be arson in a restroom building early Sunday at Collett Park on the city’s north side.
-
Garfield Towers fire cause still under study
No new information has surfaced in the investigation of last week’s fire at Garfield Towers that temporarily displaced about 200 residents of the 152-unit building.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 22, 2012
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Vigo County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
With a family history of racing, young Cruz in control
Every mother knows you can’t wash the smell of gasoline out of a kid’s genes.
-
Relay keeps fight vs. cancer on the move
Cancer never sleeps, nor does the fight against its spread.
-
Blessing offers a faith-based form of travelers’ insurance
Members of a local parish hope to have angels driving alongside them this summer.
- RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: May 21, 2012
-
Arson suspected in fire in Collett Park restroom
An early morning fire inCollett Park has been ruled arson and an investigation is under way.
-
Water Works: Walking trails, observation gazebo and more coming to the banks of the Wabash River
Walking trails and an observation gazebo are among projects under way for the Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area east of West Terre Haute.
-
300 kids enter the business world
Hundreds of local youth found the sunshine a little sweeter Saturday, selling lemonade from stands throughout town.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Can one single voter make a difference?
In a recent column, I posed a question about why only 19 percent of Indiana’s 4 million voters cast a ballot in the May primary election. I promised not to chastise anyone who would ’fess up to not voting.
-
Terre Haute NAACP to elect delegates for convention
The Greater Terre Haute NAACP will be hosting its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Vigo County public Library, lower level.
- More News Headlines
-
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Secret Service Boss: 'I Apologize'
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Remains of Veterans Found in Basement Are Buried
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Egyptians Vote in Historic Presidential Election
Blacks Seek to Find Their Own Missing
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
Joplin Marches to 'Remember' Tornado Victims
Serial Stabbings Suspect Guilty of Murder
Daisy Sizzles in Sexy Swimwear
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Boy to Rescuers: 'Do You Have a Plan?'
Obama to Grads: `A New Feeling About America'
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
Kristen Stewart says no shame in explicit love scenes
Bonus: Tan Mom Goes Nude
Daycare worker burns child’s face with chemicals
Kanye West Wants Kim Kardashian to Look More Natural Like Kate Middleton
Tornado Touches Down During Wedding
Snooki Reveals Sex of Baby
Toddler Drives Toy Into Traffic
Homeowner in boxers fights robbers on front lawn
Boys Like Girls Reveal Album Release: Bamboozle 2012
911 Operator Asleep During Emergency Call
FIRST LOOK: 'The Great Gatsby' Trailer
Creative dad makes Photoshop magic with daughters
Donald Driver, 'DWTS' Winner & Thriller Killer?
KTLA Video EXCLUSIVE: Mother, Children Struck by Van
Long Story Short: Miley Cyrus: Sex is magic
American Idol Finale Recap: Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez Face Off for Last Time
PETA protesters barbeque a human
Michael McKean Struck By Car
