By Khalida Sarwari
A 77-year-old retired hospital worker became $37 million richer Monday after buying a California Lottery ticket at a Salinas market for Saturday’s draw, according to lottery officials.
When Salinas resident Mitsuko Higashi checked her numbers in the newspaper Monday morning and saw that she had won, she compared the experience to being doused by a bucket of ice water.
Higashi has played the lottery for the past 25 years and is a regular customer at Las Lomas Market & Gas, located at 307 San Juan Grade Road.
When she fell ill last week, she sent her daughter to buy the winning ticket for Saturday night’s draw.
Higashi will receive about $21.2 million before taxes. She said she will use the money to help support her family.
The owner of Las Lomas Market & Gas will receive $185,000 for selling the ticket, the largest jackpot ever sold in Salinas.