Willow Spring woman wins $1 million from NC Lottery with $10 ticket

Karina Goicochea of Willow Spring experienced an unforgettable moment when she discovered her $10 lottery ticket bought at a Zebulon BP station was worth a staggering $1 million.

A Willow Spring woman got a big surprise when she arrived at the NC Education Lottery headquarters Thursday and found out she won a $1 million prize.

"Reality still hasn't hit me yet," said Karina Goicochea. "I won the big one."

Other WRAL Top Stories

Goicochea bought her lucky $10 ticket from BP gas station on West Gannon Avenue in Zebulon.

Goicochea said she knew her $1,000,000 Cashword ticket carried a big prize, but she didn't realize just how big.

"We thought it was $10,000 to begin with," she laughed. "I just kept looking at it."

After Goicochea found out how much she won, she had a decision to make: receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000.

She chose the lump sum of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $430,503.

Goicochea plans to invest her winnings.

The $1,000,000 Cashword game debuted in August with four top prizes of $1 million. One $1 million prize remains to be claimed.

For details on how $14.5 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Johnston County last year, visit www.nclottery.com.