Jan. 17 (UPI) -- A Virginia man scored a $500,000 jackpot from a scratch-off lottery ticket thanks to his wife's need for a new lighter.
Harland Dodson of Colonial Beach told Virginia Lottery officials the only reason he went to the local 7-Eleven was to buy a lighter for his wife, but while he was at the store a display of Virginia Lottery Scratchers tickets caught his eye.
Dodson bought four tickets, two for himself and two for his wife. He said one of his tickets, a Super 5s game, turned out to be a top prize winner.
"I said to my wife, 'We just won $500,000!'" he recalled. "She said, 'Let me see!' I said, 'No!'"
The Virginia Lottery said Dodson beat odds of 1 in 652,800 to win the top prize.