St. Lucie Co. woman wins $5M as Florida Lottery players score big; Mega Millions at $672M

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A St. Lucie County woman is among several Florida Lottery players celebrating life-changing wins after claiming a top scratch-off prize worth $5 million.

The Florida Lottery announced on Friday that Maria Duran, 57, of St. Lucie County, claimed a $5 million top prize from the $5,000,000 CROSSWORD CASH Scratch-Off game on April 6.

Duran chose to receive her winnings as a one-time lump-sum payment of $3,262,138. According to lottery officials, she purchased the winning ticket from PK 2 Quick Mart, located at 4101 Okeechobee Road in Fort Pierce.

Duran’s prize was the largest among several major Scratch-Off wins claimed across the state during April, according to lottery officials.

In Polk County, Rose Simmons, 67, of Winter Haven, claimed a $2 million top prize from the 100X THE CASH Scratch-Off game on April 20. Simmons opted for a one-time lump-sum payment of $1,111,700 after purchasing her winning ticket from a 7-Eleven on Recker Highway in Winter Haven.

A St. Lucie County woman is among several Florida Lottery players celebrating life-changing wins after claiming a top scratch-off prize worth $5 million. (Florida Lottery)

Meanwhile, Tatyana Ashe, 27, of Apopka, claimed a $1 million top prize from the AMERICA 250 FLORIDA Scratch-Off game on April 1; no, it’s no April Fool’s Day joke. Lottery officials said Ashe chose a lump-sum payment of $606,600. Her winning ticket was purchased at a Wawa on East Colonial Drive in Orlando.

A St. Lucie County woman is among several Florida Lottery players celebrating life-changing wins after claiming a top scratch-off prize worth $5 million. (Florida Lottery)

See also: Florida suspect linked to multiple shootings captured after chase, gunfire, Jeep rollover

While April’s winners are already enjoying their windfalls, Florida lottery players have another chance at a massive payday this week.

The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday night’s drawing has climbed to an estimated $672 million, with a cash option of $293.3 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in the previous drawing. The next drawing is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET on Friday, July 17.

Under Florida law, lottery winners’ names and cities of residence are public record and may be released by the Florida Lottery after 90 days.