California Woman Accidentally Destroys $26 Million Winning Lottery Ticket

A woman who bought a $26 million SuperLotto Plus ticket six months ago accidentally destroyed it, according to the manager of the Norwalk gas station who sold it to her.

The winning ticket was purchased for the November 14, 2020, drawing from the Arco AM-PM at 10602 Imperial Highway, reports KTLA. The winner had until the end of the day to claim the money.

Frank, the store's manager, told KTLA surveillance video shows the woman who purchased the winning ticket and she is known to store employees.

She recently came into the AM-PM and told them she had bought the lottery ticket, put it in her pocket, and accidentally destroyed it when she laundered it.

A copy of the surveillance video was sent to California Lottery officials but the store had recorded over the original version and no longer has the footage.

The woman declined to talk to reporters but the manager described her as a woman in her 40s.

California Lottery officials told KTLA even if they had the original footage of the woman purchasing the ticket, surveillance video wouldn't be enough to verify a winning SuperLotto Plus ticket.

If a winner loses a ticket they would have to provide substantial evidence like a photo or photocopy of the front and back of the ticket.

Any unclaimed lottery prizes go to public education. California public schools have racked in over $1 billion from unclaimed prizes.

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