Nick Pletcher stopped by the pharmacy to get a prescription filled. He left with $1 million.
Well, technically he left with a winning Pennsylvania Lottery ticket.
On Wednesday morning, he was joined by lottery officials at AccuServ Pharmacy in North Huntingdon, where he bought the winning Millionaire Maker scratch-off ticket.
“I grabbed a ticket as I was waiting for my prescription,” said Pletcher, a Mt. Pleasant resident and single father with two young sons. “I went and scanned it and, I mean, I couldn’t believe it. It’s a good feeling.”
Millionaire Maker is a $20 scratch-off game that was launched in late February. Pletcher’s winning ticket of $1 million is the game’s top prize.
Pletcher works as a machinist, and said he plays the lottery occasionally for fun.
“Most of the days I’m cleaning the house or running my kids to hockey practice,” he said. “This prize means a great future for my family, and maybe some nice family vacations.”
Marvin Sheffler, owner at AccuServ, said this is the biggest lottery winner sold at his store.
“We’ve had a couple $100,000 winners before, and a $300,000 winner,” Sheffler said. The pharmacy will receive a $5,000 bonus for having sold the ticket.
It almost didn’t happen at all — Pletcher said his trip to the pharmacy was originally supposed to happen the day before.
“I ended up having to pick my kids up from school,” he said. “The next day, I bought the ticket, scanned it over at the machine and it said, ‘Congratulations, $1 million winner.’ ”
Pennsylvania is the only state that directs all proceeds to programs benefiting older state residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed nearly $34 billion to funding property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance and more to Pennsylvania seniors.
