7-Eleven Prove to Be Lucky Numbers for Lotto Winner : Jackpot: Unemployed machinist’s mate returns to Westminster store in a Mercedes instead of a pickup with the ticket he bought there worth $16.8 million.
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WESTMINSTER — For the year that he was a steady customer, Mark Beeks would pull into the parking lot of the 7-Eleven store on Golden West Street in an aging and dented pickup truck.
But on Sunday, Beeks cruised to the Westminster convenience store in style, driving a brand-new Mercedes-Benz convertible and holding a Super Lotto ticket worth $16.8 million.
The 37-year-old Westminster resident learned he had won the lottery jackpot on Thanksgiving Day.
“When he came in Sunday to tell us, he was so excited,” said Pablo Estrella, manager of the 7-Eleven where Beeks purchased the winning ticket. “He was perspiring. The weather was cold, but he was sweating.”
The windfall came as Beeks was searching for work, according to state lottery officials. He lost his job as a machinist’s mate for the Navy last year during a round of budget cuts and was living on unemployment benefits, officials said.
Beeks drove his new car to Sacramento to claim his prize Monday. He will receive annual pretax payments of $843,000 for 20 years. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Beeks discovered that he had won Super Lotto on Thanksgiving Day while sitting in his truck outside a Westminster liquor store, said Bob Taylor, spokesman for the California State Lottery. His winning number combination was 14, 20, 21, 35, 41 and 42.
“He said when he saw the numbers, he couldn’t let go of the steering wheel,” Taylor said. Beeks proceeded to hug a woman who was standing outside the liquor store, Taylor said.
Later on Thanksgiving Day, Beeks returned to the 7-Eleven to present his ticket. “He was very excited and happy when he came in,” said employee Raymond Veloso. “He said he wanted a bodyguard.”
The Mercedes purchase occurred sometime over the weekend. Estrella said Beeks bought “the top of the line” that cost more than $100,000.
Taylor said that Beeks might consider opening a small business. He also plans to use some of his winnings to set up a trust fund for his son, Taylor said.
This is the second big lottery win in Westminster in recent months. Earlier this year, a group of 16 people won a Fantasy Five jackpot of $460,000, Taylor said.
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