Ticket Mistake Turns Into Big Lottery Win For Ocean County Man: Report

LAKEWOOD, NJ — An Ocean County man has won a Cash4Life prize worth potentially $1 million because of a ticket that was sold to him accidentally, according to a report.

New Jersey Lottery officials reported the second-prize winning Cash4Life ticket was sold at Sam's Day & Nite Food Store, 1200 River Ave., and matched five numbers but not the Cash Ball in the Dec. 1 drawing. The winning numbers were were 17, 23, 30, 49 and 55. The Cash Ball drawn was 1, according to lottery officials.

The Asbury Park Press reported owners at the store said the man, who's 70 and won $1,000 a week for life (or $1 million if he chooses the cash option) generally picks his own numbers, but the clerk accidentally sold him one Quick Pick ticket, the report said.

The Quick Pick ticket proved to be the winner. The odds of buying a second-prize ticket with a $2 ticket are 7,282,016 to 1, according to lottery officials. Drawings in the game, played in eight states including New Jersey, are held every Monday and Thursday.

Cash4Life logo via New Jersey Lottery