Allen Zieglar, assistant western regional sales manager for Pennsylvania Lottery, and Karen Coffman stand with her $1 million winnings Thursday, June 13, at the BP gas station in Freeport, Armstrong County. Submitted photo
An Armstrong County woman said accepting her $1 million lottery winnings Thursday, June 13, at the same gas station where she bought the ticket, was “bittersweet.”
Karen Coffman, 61, said her husband died of a brain tumor two weeks after she found out the lucky news.
“I kept telling him, ‘One of these days I’m going to hit the million!’ When I told him about this prize, he thought I was lying to him,” she said.
Officials from the Pennsylvania Lottery presented her check at the BP gas station on Buffalo Street in Freeport, Armstrong County.
Coffman is a retired chef for a nursing home, and said she often bought scratch-off lottery tickets from the location. In fact, this was not her first lottery win, according to the release.
“About 14 years ago, I won $65,000 on a scratch-off ticket that I purchased at the same location,” she said.
Coffman said she will likely use the money to take her family on a vacation and move to Florida permanently.
The million dollar scratch-off game went on sale Dec. 27, 2022. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, scratch-offs are distributed at random to retailers who sell them. It is unknown where the winning ticket was sold until a winner comes forward.
Pat Browne, state secretary of revenue, said they were thrilled to present the check Thursday and celebrate with Coffman.
“Her win is also a reminder that the Pennsylvanian Lottery funds a number of programs for older Pennsylvanians that support them and help them lead fulfilling lives,” she said.
