A truck driver from Brooklyn would finally experience "la vie en rose" after winning the second-largest Powerball jackpot in New York Lottery history.
David Johnson, 56, of East New York, accepted his winnings from Yolanda Vega of the New York Lottery Friday at Resorts World Casino in Queens.
Johnson was a truck driver for Iberia Foods who was sick on Dec. 26 but had to go to work to get his holiday pay.
He filled up at Arnold’s Service Station on Linden Lane in Brooklyn as usual, spending $5 on lottery tickets including one quick-pick Powerball ticket. He worked his shift, then went to bed and messaged he would be out sick the following day.
“A friend of mine, the next driver for the company called me and said, ‘Dave somebody won the Powerball at the gas station,’” he said. “I told him no bro that’s not me man. That’s not my luck.”
He still didn't check his ticket until his friend called him a second time urging him to do so. He didn't realize he'd actually won until two days later on his way to work.
"I went to the store and gave the ticket to the clerk to check. He scanned it and said 'Congratulations,' I needed to see it for myself, so I scanned and saw it read BIG WINNER," Johnson said.
"I got right back in my car, turned my music up, and zoomed on home," Johnson said. He didn't go to work that day, and he doesn't intend to go back.
"I’m rich. I don’t gotta go to work no more," Johnson said.
Johnson will take his winnings in a single lump-sum payment totaling $114,091,248 after taxes.
