Pasco man nearly loses winning lottery ticket

A Pasco man is making plans for his new restaurant after winning $180,000 in the Hit 5 lottery game. But he came close to losing the winning ticket.

He bought his Hit 5 ticket at the Tesoro at 1212 N. Fourth Ave., in Pasco for the drawing on Nov. 22.

A few days later he returned to the gas station to check his ticket.

When he heard he had a winning ticket — splitting a $360,000 prize with the buyer of a second winning ticket — his first thought was to share the good news with his wife.

But when he reached her, he did not have a ticket to show her. He had left it at the gas station.

“It felt like it took them forever to find it,” he said. “But when they finally did, it was the best moment. I signed it immediately and went straight home.”

He and his wife have recently purchased a restaurant in the Tri-Cities, but have not been able to afford a sign for it yet.

Neither the name of the winner nor his restaurant were released by the Washington Lottery.