CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman is on cloud nine after she collected over $1 million, one of the two largest Cash 5 lottery jackpots in North Carolina history.
Timiaya Ellison told the North Carolina Education Lottery she was shocked to find out she'd picked a big winner.
"When I found out, I thought I had won half of the amount I did," Ellison said. "I was getting my hair done yesterday, and I said, 'Oh, let me check my lotto and see if I can use any of it for some gas.' I was looking at it, just standing there like, 'oh my God,' and misread it because I was so flustered."
Ellison bought the $1.05 million winning ticket at the Circle K on University City Boulevard in northeast Charlotte. The other winning ticket was also purchased in Charlotte, at the Circle K on John J Delaney Drive in Ballantyne.
Lottery officials said both tickets matched all five winning numbers. The drawing was the first time a Cash 5 jackpot estimate topped $2 million since the game's inception.
Ellison claimed her half of the prize, $1,054,439, at lottery headquarters in Raleigh on April 22. After taxes and withholdings, she brought home more than $740,000.
Carolina Cash 5 tickets are just $1 and drawings are held every night. Friday's jackpot is $100,000. The odds of winning are 1 in 962,598. Cash 5 players also have the option to buy lottery tickets online or through official NC Lottery app.