The third time was also a charm.
A Massachusetts diner with a hot hand has sold its third $1 million lottery ticket in just six months.
Sean Durnin secured the latest life-changing ticket from the Old South Diner on Nantucket on Tuesday, winning the first $1 million prize in the Massachusetts Lottery’s new “$10,000,000 Bonanza” $20 instant ticket game, lottery officials announced.
He’s the third lucky Bay Stater to strike it rich with a ticket bought at the restaurant since March 11.
Durnin, a restauranteur from the island, said he was driving when a car seat stashed in the back of his truck fell out, according to the state lottery commission.
While he was retracing his route to find the seat, he stopped at the diner for a snack and decided to buy a lottery ticket.
After finding the car seat, he brought the ticket home and found out he’d also just won $1 million.
He claimed his prize at the Mass Lottery’s Dorchester headquarters on Tuesday, choosing the one-time, lump-sum cash payment of $650,000.
Durnin said he plans on investing his winnings in his wife and son, whom he called his “universe,” the lottery said.
In March, Jose Fontanez, of Boston, won a $1 million prize in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “$4,000,000 Bonus Bucks” $10 instant ticket game.
Fontanez, who bought the ticket while visiting the island with his girlfriend, also chose the $650,000 cash option, which he said that he plans to put toward purchasing a house.
The Old South Diner then sold a $2 million winning ticket in June to Garen Downie, of Hyannis.
Downie, who works on Nantucket, received a $1.3 million cash prize after winning big on the “Lifetime Millions” $50 instant win game. He said he plans to invest his prize money.
The diner has been awarded a total of $40,000 in bonus prizes for selling the three winning tickets.
