Wife scratches NC lottery ticket while her husband drives — then the screaming started

Mark Stephenson had an exciting few days recently.

First, Stephenson and his wife closed on their new beach house in Surf City, North Carolina. Then, on their way home to Kenly, the couple stopped to buy lottery tickets, according to a North Carolina Education Lottery news release.

“We just closed on our beach house yesterday and we were on our way back when we stopped at a Speedway and bought the ticket,” Stephenson told officials in the July 11 news release.

When Stephenson got to the Speedway in Beulaville, though, the two tickets he planned to buy were sold out, so he bought a $2,000,000 Riches scratch-off instead, according to lottery officials. As Stephenson drove, his wife scratched the ticket.

“She just started screaming,” Stephenson told officials.

The couple won a $100,000 prize, according to officials.

“I had to pull off at a Bojangles so we could collect our thoughts,” Stephenson said in the release.

After taxes, Stephenson took home $71,256 which he plans to use to help pay for the new beach house and renovations, he told officials.

“We are just very blessed and very thankful,” Stephenson said in the release.

Kenly is about 40 miles southeast of Raleigh.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Co-workers with 15-year pact to share Powerball prize can finally honor promise in NC

Mom ‘always envisioned winning big’ — then scratched her ‘lucky number’ in NC lottery

Chuck E. Cheese coin led man to NC lottery prize so big, it left him ‘bawling’