LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The 16 county workers in New Jersey who won a third of a large Powerball jackpot include the daughter of a state lawmaker who wrote the state's lottery law.
The "Ocean's 16" group, seven men and nine women employed by the Ocean County Vehicle Services Department, came forward Tuesday, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, reported. Lottery spokeswoman Judith Drucker, who lives in Ocean County, said six in the group had homes heavily damaged by Superstorm Sandy.
Each gets a 16th share of nearly $150 million before taxes.
One, Barbara Jo Rivald, has a close connection to the lottery. Her father, state Sen. John Brown, a Republican, who died last year, wrote the state's lottery law and was nicknamed "father of the New Jersey Lottery."
"I wish he was here to share the moment," Rivald said.
Most of the lucky 16 said they plan to keep their jobs. For several, some of their winnings will help repair storm-damaged houses.
"We had 7 feet of water, but we are very lucky," Sue Nickel told WCAU. "Some of the money will be used to help with that."
The total jackpot for last Wednesday's drawing was $448 million with "Ocean's 16" holding one of three winning tickets. The other winners are Paul White, a project engineer from Lake Ham, Minn., and the unknown purchaser of a ticket in South Brunswick, N.J.
