Scratcher worth $500,000 sold in Westminster

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Thursday, August 31, 2017
A sample ticket in the California Lottery's Money in the Bank scratchers game, which offers a top prize of $500,000.
A sample ticket in the California Lottery's Money in the Bank scratchers game, which offers a top prize of $500,000.
California Lottery-KABC

WESTMINSTER, Calif. (KABC) -- A lottery scratcher ticket worth $500,000 was sold at a Westminster store, state officials said.

The winner, Sen Xi, plans to buy a car as one of his first purchases after taking a bus to work for the last seven years.

"I've never been able to afford a car!" Xi said, according to a California Lottery press release. "This is unbelievable. I can't describe the feeling of (winning) this much money. It's surprising!"

Xi said he bought the ticket when he went to lunch and stopped at Al's Market on Brookhurst Street in Westminster.

He last won a big prize on a scratcher about a decade ago when he won $3,000 and has been trying ever since to win a bigger amount.