‘Once in a lifetime.’ Truck driver buys lotto ticket at rest stop and wins big in NC

A North Carolina dump truck driver took a break from his route and returned to work a millionaire, according to the North Carolina Education Lottery.

The lucky 44-year-old, Chadwick Denton of Henderson, stopped at a rest stop and bought a $2 million winning lottery ticket, according to a statement from the lottery.

“That’s like a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing,” Denton told lottery officials.

After buying his ticket, which cost $20 at the Best Bet BP on Oine Road in Norlina, Denton said that he started scratching and saw the letters “mil” appear on the ticket, according to the lottery.

If the door of his truck had been open, “I probably would’ve fell out,” Denton told lottery officials. “That’s how hard it hit me.”

When he went to collect his prize last week, Denton chose to accept a lump sum of $1.2 million and took home $851,755 after taxes, according to the lottery.

Denton told lottery officials that he plans to use the money to buy a new home for his wife and kids.

This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 2:26 PM with the headline "‘Once in a lifetime.’ Truck driver buys lotto ticket at rest stop and wins big in NC."