‘My grandmother is my life.’ NC lottery winner plans a dream vacation for 92-year-old

Daniel Roberts was getting gas for his lawn mower when he bought a lottery ticket at George’s Mini Market, where he works in Asheville.

He took the $5 scratch-off ticket back to his truck, where he discovered he had won $250,000, according to the NC Education Lottery.

“I took it back to my truck to scratch it,” Roberts said in a news release. “I cranked on the AC because it was hot outside. I scratched the ticket and started shaking when I saw what I won.”

Roberts told lottery officials he plans to use his prize to take his 92-year-old grandmother and family on a dream vacation.

“My grandmother is my life,” Roberts said in the press release. “All she wants is to go somewhere pretty, so I’m going to make that happen.”

He claimed his winnings Thursday and, after taxes, took home $176,876, according to lottery officials. He said he is also going to use some of the money to fix up his house.

Roberts won the last of six top prizes of the Hit $500 game, which launched in July, the NC Education Lottery said.