Woman ‘lost $26million lottery ticket in pants she put in the laundry’
The winner of $26million in lottery money may have washed away her luck at any of it.
A woman reportedly walked into an Arco AM/PM convenience store in the city of Norwalk in the Los Angeles, California area on Wednesday saying that she left a SuperLotto Plus ticket she bought there. The unnamed woman said she left the ticket in her pants and it got destroyed in the laundry, store worker Esperanza Hernandez told the Whittier Daily News.
Surveillance footage showed the woman purchased the ticket and employees are familiar with her, the store manager told KTLA. A copy of the video has been submitted to the California Lottery, the manager told the TV station.
Lottery spokeswoman Cathy Johnston said the woman’s claim will be investigated.
The winning ticket for the drawing back on November 14 was purchased at that convenience store and no one redeemed it on Thursday, which was the final day.
Lottery customers who think they won are required to complete a claim form. Those who have lost a ticket must also provide evidence that they had it, like a photograph of the front and back, according to lottery officials.
Lottery officials said it is not common for large prizes to go unclaimed.
In this instance, the winner could take $26million in annual installments or a $19.7million cash option. If the jackpot is not claimed, $19.7million will be given to public schools in California.
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