Juan Garcia of Durham won a $250,000 prize from a $5 scratch-off ticket, the North Carolina Education Lottery announced Tuesday morning.

The lottery shared a release saying Garcia bought the lucky ticket from University Market on West Chapel Hill Street in Durham and collected his prize on Monday. After required state and federal taxes, Garcia will take home $177,526.

Garcia only bought the ticket after stopping by University Market to get quarters for laundry.

“I was in disbelief,” said Garcia, who is the father of a six-month-old daughter. “I kept seeing zeros… this is definitely as huge step toward our one-day dream home.”

The ticket was from the game ‘Mega Bucks Limited Edition,’ which debuted in August. Two $250,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

Image via NC Education Lottery

Ticket sales from Carolina Jackpot and other games raise more than $2.5 million per day for education, with $13.9 million of that going to Durham County in 2021.

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