Visitor wins $250,000 on $10 lottery ticket

For the second time in as many weeks, someone in the Lowcountry has hit it big in the South Carolina Education Lottery.

Gerald Vance, 42, of Bonney Lake, Wash., was in Summerville this week visiting family. His mother, June Swicord, works at Hutch's convenience store on 5th North Street, and he stopped in to see her Wednesday and bought a $10 Cash Blowout ticket that turned out to be worth $250,000.

"I'm a happy man," said Vance, part owner of a garage-door installation company. "I'm going to help my family. The economy is down, so everybody is not working. I'm getting everybody caught up on their bills."

A 29-year-old man won $1 million after buying a $10 scratch-off ticket May 30 at the Kwik Fill on Yeamans Hall Road in Hanahan. It was a Saturday, and he had to wait until the following Monday morning to collect his money. It was the first time the man, who requested anonymity, had bought a lottery ticket.

Lottery winners can cash in their tickets at the Mount Pleasant claim center, which deducts 7 percent for state taxes and 25 percent for federal taxes. Vance walked away with $170,000, and the $1 million winner received a $680,000 check. Businesses that sell winning tickets get a 1 percent selling bonus.