One lucky suburban man walked away with more than just the lottery ticket he purchased.
Piotr Kozuszko, 29 of Elmwood Park won the top prize of $250,000 from an Illinois Lottery Crossword ticket. Kozuszko purchased the winning ticket at Shell on 3181 N. Milwaukee Ave, according to a statement.
“When I counted the words and realized I had won the top prize, I was so nervous,” said Kozuszko.
Kozuszko was at his home when he scratched the ticket and learned of his cash prize. This was the first instant ticket he has purchased in the past year.
As a result of selling a winning ticket, the retailer received 1 percent of the prize amount, or $2,500.
For only spending $10 on the $250,000 Crossword, Kozuszko plans to use the money to purchase a plane ticket for his mother to visit family in Poland and put the rest of it in the bank, according to a statement from the lottery.
A native of Poland, Kozuszko has lived in Illinois for the past 15 years.
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Of the 56 $250,000 prizes available, 13 have not yet been claimed, the lottery said.
