$30,000 Lottery Win A Bright Spot in Cedar Rapids Man's Recovery
Jason Stratton Claims Top Prize in 'Lucky Stars' Scratch Game
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CLIVE, Iowa — A Cedar Rapids man said his $30,000 lottery win will make a meaningful difference in his life after surviving a devastating accident.
“I got hit by a Toyota Tundra going 50 miles an hour, so I'm feeling pretty lucky,” Jason Stratton said on Monday as he claimed his prize at the Iowa Lottery's Cedar Rapids regional office.
Stratton, 37, won a top prize in the “Lucky Stars” scratch game. He bought his winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 1843 Johnson Ave. NW in Cedar Rapids, using prize money from earlier pull-tab wins to make the purchase.
He scanned the ticket with the Iowa Lottery mobile app and was shocked at what he'd won.
“It popped up green and I looked at it and it was 30 grand, and I'm like, 'No way!'” Stratton said. “I'm an amputee, so instantly, I'm thinking, 'Life's going to get a little easier.' That's pretty much it. Right when I saw it, I'm like, 'Life's going to pick up a little bit for me.'”
Stratton said his winnings will help cover ongoing medical expenses and transportation needs as he continues his recovery five and a half years after the accident. But even after claiming his prize, he admits it still feels surreal.
“I'm still in shock, I think,” he said. “I had my friend pinch me because I thought I was dreaming.”
Lucky Stars is a $3 scratch game that features seven top prizes of $30,000 and overall odds of 1 in 3.80. For more information about this game, and the number of prizes still available, visit www.ialottery.com.
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