Grocery run turns into $40K scratch-off win for Leitchfield couple

LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Leitchfield couple’s grocery run turned into $40,000 after buying a $3 scratch-off ticket.

Kentucky Lottery officials said the couple wishes to remain anonymous.

The wife said while waiting for her husband to get off work, she decided to grocery shop at the Walmart on Elizabethtown Road in Leitchfield, and part of her purchase was a $3 Pumpkin Payout 9X Scratch-off ticket. 

Officials said she scratched the ticket in the parking lot of her husband’s work.

“I really didn’t believe it until I showed him,” she said.

She uncovered three matching symbols on all 16 games on the ticket to win the $40,000 top prize.

“She tried calling me, but she did sound very worked up, excited,” he said. He told officials he initially thought something was wrong. 

“I got in the car, and she handed me this (ticket). I asked, ‘What is this, and then I looked at it,” he said. “You’re messing with me. I need you to tell me if you’re messing with me because that’s my boss walking right over there, and I’m about to tell him I need tomorrow off to go to the Lottery office to cash this in.” 

“I play often but recently got her into it and she’ll buy a ticket every once in a while,” he said. 

The couple claimed their ticket at Kentucky Lottery headquarters in Louisville and received a check for $28,800 after taxes.

They told officials that they plan to use their winnings to buy a second car and put toward home improvements.  

“This couldn’t have come at a better time since we’re down to one car,” he said. “It’s definitely life changing.” 

Walmart will receive $400 for selling the winning ticket. 

There are two $40,000 top prizes and 34 $600 second-tier prizes remaining in the Kentucky Lottery’s Pumpkin Payout 9X Scratch-off.