$1.65M Pennsylvania Lottery prize still unclaimed by winner in Kiski Township
Time is running out for a person to cash in a $1.65 million-winning Pennsylvania lottery ticket sold last year in Kiski Township.
The unclaimed Cash 5 winning ticket was purchased Dec. 16, 2021, at the BP Fueland on River Road.
The ticket is on the verge of expiring if unclaimed by the end of the business day on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, according to lottery officials.
Fueland won’t be eligible to receive its $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket unless the prize is claimed by the ticket holder.
Employee Mike Shaner was working last year on the day of the sale.
Speculation about the fate of the ticket is a frequent topic of conversation at the rural convenience store.
“I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen. The person could have died, lost the ticket or accidentally thrown it away,” Shaner said. “I have no hunch. I’ll just have to wait and see.”
Lottery officials confirmed Thursday the ticket has yet to be claimed.
Set to Expire! A Cash 5 with Quick Cash jackpot-winning ticket worth more than $1.65 million that was sold in Vandergrift, Armstrong County, must be claimed by Friday, December, 16! https://t.co/U8Dvk0UxBo #PALottery pic.twitter.com/cT508RtEM3
— Pennsylvania Lottery (@PALottery) November 16, 2022
Customer Joe Clark of Leechburg made a stop at Fueland on Sunday and said, if he had a million-dollar ticket, he’d be on a money mission.
“I wouldn’t wait. I need body work on my truck, and I need a new tractor,” Clark said. “Honestly, I think the guy maybe passed away or something and nobody knows about the ticket. Damn right that’s a lot of money. Of course, to me, a hundred dollars is a lot of money.”
The winning numbers were 8-12-18-31-35.
By law, unclaimed winnings remain in the lottery fund and are used to fund programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians.
According to the lottery officials, the Pennsylvania Lottery, established in 1972, is the only state lottery that allots all of its proceeds to programs for senior citizens.
To date, more than $33.8 billion has been contributed to programs that include senior centers and meals, low-cost prescription assistance, free and reduced transportation, care services and rent and property tax rebates, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery website.
In Pennsylvania, winners can’t remain anonymous, and winners’ information is made public under the state’s Open Records law.
Winnings are subject to 3.7% state personal income tax and federal taxes of 24%.
According the the lottery website, winners are advised to keep winning tickets in a secure place, such as a safety deposit box, and not to rush to claim their winnings.
In Pennsylvania, winning tickets may be claimed up to one year from the drawing date.
Shaner said customers still talk about that day, and a large faux lottery check hangs on the checkout counter advertising the news of the $1.65 million jackpot prize sold there.
“They keep asking if anyone claimed it, but nobody knows a thing,” said Shaner, adding the area receives its fair share of out-of-town travelers.
For more information, go to palottery.state.pa.us.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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