North Carolina Woman In Awe Over 'Overwhelming' Lottery Win

A woman in North Carolina is feeling overwhelmed after winning an "unreal" lottery prize.

Natalie Vega, of Asheboro, recently stopped for gas at the Zingo Express on North Main Street in Archdale when she decided to also purchase a $5 Prize Link Multiplier ticket, according to a release from the NC Education Lottery.

"This was my first time buying that ticket," she said. "I like to just pick random ones."

That strategy worked out in her favor when her lucky ticket landed her one of the game's top $200,000 prizes.

"I had to read the instructions on the ticket like 10 times just to make sure I was looking at it right," she said, adding that she has played lottery games in the past but never to this much success. "I've only ever won a couple dollars. I think $20 is the biggest before this."

Vega claimed her prize at lottery headquarters on Wednesday (May 21), taking home an impressive total of $143,501 after all required state and federal tax withholdings. Even after collecting her win, she is still in awe over her win.

"It felt so unreal," she said. "It's just overwhelming."

According to lottery officials, the Randolph County woman plans to use her winnings to buy land and invest. Following her win, three top prizes of $200,000 remain to be claimed in the Prize Link Multiplier game.