Powerball jackpot claimed by E. Pa. man

A whim turned into quite a windfall - $37.6 million cash - for a northeastern Pennsylvania man.

Steven Lloyd, 51, of Harding, about seven miles north of Wilkes Barre, stopped at a local Turkey Hill convenience store on Nov. 17 to grab a granola bar and cup of coffee, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

With his change, the Luzerne County man decided to buy a ticket for the Nov. 19 Powerball drawing, which boasted a $59.9 million annuity jackpot.

"I had forgotten I bought the ticket until I was visiting my mom, and my sister called to say the big winning ticket was sold at the Exeter Turkey Hill," Lloyd said. "I threw my tickets onto a desk and couldn't believe what I saw when I got to the winning ticket. My mom thought something was wrong until I told her I thought I had the winning Powerball ticket."

He checked the numbers - 9, 16, 17, 28 and 30, with a Powerball of 11 - about fifty times, he said.

This morning, he staked his claim at state lottery headquarters in Middletown, near Harrisburg, opting for the cash payout of $37.6 million - less Uncle Sam's cut of 25 percent.

"I'm not looking for a life of excess with this money," Lloyd said. "Just an easier, more interesting life. . . . I've always said good things take time but great things happen in an instant, and I was fortunate enough to have experienced this instant."

He's the first Pennsylvania jackpot winner since February 2009, when Palmira Nicolo of Wyndmoor and a Delaware ticket split a grand prize valued at $174.4 million as an annuity. Her share in cash, before taxes, was $46.6 million.

The biggest annuity jackpot ever hit in Pennsylvania was worth $110.2 million, also in Powerball. A Skillman, N.J., couple bought their winning ticket in May 2004 in Bucks County.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.