Man runs out of petrol, scores $1.5 million

A man who ran out of petrol and stopped to refuel has recounted his shock after he left the station with a winning $1.5 million scratchie.

Michael Schlemmer stopped to refuel and left the station with a $1.5m winning scratchie. Picture: Kentucky Lottery.

A man who ran out of petrol and stopped to refuel has recounted his shock after he left the station with a winning $1.5 million scratchie.

Michael Schlemmer, from Kentucky in the American Midwest, clocked that his car was about to run out of petrol just as he turned into a service station to top up.

Once inside, he took the opportunity to purchase a Luck Kentucky Lottery scratch-off card.

“I ran out of gas, and I coasted in there,” Mr Schlemmer said.

“I had 40 bucks on me and bought $20 worth of gas, and bought a ticket.”

Michael Schlemmer scratched off his $30 ticket to reveal a $1.5 million prize. Picture: Kentucky Lottery.

He scratched off his US$20 (A$30) ticket and revealed the symbol that showed he had won a whopping US$1 million (A$1.5 million).

Mr Schlemmer explained: “I scratched it off, and I looked at it and went back in the store.

“I showed the girls that sold it to me, and they about had a fit.

“The owners of the store were there and they both started grinning.”

The petrol station that sold the ticket will receive A$13,200 for the win, according to Kentucky Lottery.

The petrol station that sold the ticket will receive A$13,200 for the win. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Mr Schlemmer said the reality of his good fortune didn’t sink in until he was handed the cheque.

“Nothing went through my mind,” he said.

“I just got up and went back in the store and showed it to them [shop assistants]. Until I get the check in my hand, I don’t believe it.”

Mr Schlemmer decided to take the lump sum of US$862,000 rather than receiving US$50,000 per year over two decades.

He was handed a cheque for US$616,330 (A$943,000) after tax.

Mr Schlemmer said he plans to splurge on a new car with the winnings and save the rest.

Originally published as Man runs out of petrol, scores $1.5 million