Man’s intuition leads to $100K lottery win during lunch break

TONTITOWN, Ark. (WKRC) – A man’s lunch break took an unexpected turn when a $5 lottery ticket turned into a $100,000 payday.

Thomas McCawley of Tontitown won the top prize in the Fiery 5’s instant lottery game after buying the ticket during a routine stop while returning from work lunch, Arkansas Lottery officials said. McCawley purchased the ticket at Tontitown Z-Mart Inc., a store owned by a family friend and one he frequents.

McCawley said he was drawn to the $5 instant games and chose Fiery 5’s on a hunch.

“I guess you could say it just spoke to me,” he told lottery officials.

After clocking back in at work, McCawley scratched the ticket and realized he had won $100,000 on the first row.

“This can’t be real,” he recalled thinking.

Despite the shock, he finished the workday, though he said it was difficult to concentrate. His family was initially doubtful until he showed them the ticket.

McCawley said he plans to use the winnings to buy a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for his mother-in-law.