First-time lottery player wins $400,000 in North Carolina

May 15 (UPI) -- A North Carolina man said an impulsive decision to buy his first-ever lottery ticket led to a $400,000 jackpot.

Newton resident Carlos Chavez, who owns his own construction company, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials he and his workers were doing a job in Durham on May 2 when they stopped at the Croasdaile Family Fare store.

"After work we stopped by the store," Chavez said. "I had never played the lottery before, but my friends were buying a few tickets, so I decided to buy one, too. I didn't think anything of it. I just kept it in my wallet.""

Chavez scratched the $5 Big Win ticket two days later when he was in his hotel room in Durham, revealing a $400,000 prize.

"I looked at the ticket," Chavez said. "And I thought, 'Lucky me!'"

Chavez took home $282,005 after required state and federal withholdings. He said he plans to use the money to pay off some bills and invest in his business.