INDIANAPOLIS — A northeast Indiana man traveled down to Indianapolis earlier this week to claim a check worth $4.9 million.
Jeffry Myers, 63, of Avilla, is the second person from northeast Indiana to hit a Hoosier Lotto jackpot this year. He opted for the cash payout immediately and went away with $3.7 million.
"We are all still amazed," Myers said.
On Sunday morning, Myer's checked his tickets online as soon as he woke up. Myers said he's been playing "CA$h 5" every day and the Hoosier Lotto every drawing for 30 years. He had purchased five tickets and received three free tickets thanks to a previous drawing — he hit the jackpot on one of the free tickets.
When he finally hit the jackpot, he couldn't believe what he saw.
“I was still half asleep when I pulled up the Hoosier Lottery website. I was looking at my first ticket, and it did not make any sense, as all the numbers were matching. I looked again, and lo and behold, they were all matching!” Myers said.
Myers said he immediately went to the Hoosier Lottery app and scanned his ticket to confirm his win.
“Then I needed to go for a walk because I still did not believe it. I thought, 'I must be dreaming!'”
Myers first told his older brother, who he ended up celebrating with at White Castle over sliders.
A retired forklift driver, Myers looks forward to buying a cottage and maybe a boat.
“We had a cottage in the family when I was a kid and always appreciated the ability to get away," Myers said.
The outlet that sold the winning ticket to Myers was Lassus Bros. Oil #21, located at 245 North Main Street in Avilla.
In February, a Fort Wayne resident claimed a $9.8 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot. The jackpot has been hit a total of four times in 2020.
