Lady luck was shining on good friends and co-workers as both players won $50,000 playing Bonus Match 5 using one of the co-workers regular numbers.
“She has my numbers because she plays the Lottery for me when I can’t,” said the 41-year-old healthcare employee from Baltimore. But on this day, the 56-year-old Greenbelt resident was playing for herself. “I went to play my Multi-Match ticket and reached in my car to grab a Bonus Match 5 playslip too,” she said. “It just happened to be the card with his numbers.” He played his numbers across town in Montgomery County.
They found out they won that evening, at work. “I waited until after the drawing and then checked my numbers on my phone,” expressed the one winner. He said he was shocked and had to check several times to make sure they matched. After the initial shock, he thought about his friend and wondered if, by chance, she had played the numbers too. So, he headed over to her office to find out. “He asked me if I played his card, because his numbers came out,” she said. “It made me nervous because I wasn’t sure.” She checked her purse for the ticket, checked the date and it was indeed a winner, too. The lucky players, who have been friends for 11 years, had nothing but good things to say about each other. They each agreed that this good fortune could not have happened to a better person.
The Baltimore winner came to Lottery Headquarters first and then came back later in the afternoon with his Greenbelt co-worker. He said he plans to share his prize with his family and friends, donate to his church, save and put some towards a business he is trying to start. His ticket was purchased at Cherry Hill Sunoco in Silver Spring. The other winner said she will pay her car off, help her family and save. Her ticket was purchased at Triangle Beer, Wine and Convenience in Beltsville.