Des Moines Man Couldn't Believe $50,000 Powerball® Win
Dean O'Donnell Wins Big Prize In March 31 Drawing
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CLIVE, Iowa – A Des Moines man was just one number away from winning a big Powerball jackpot in March and ended up winning a $50,000 prize.
Dean O'Donnell's easy-pick numbers matched four white balls and the Powerball in the March 31 drawing to win a $50,000 prize.
"I checked my numbers Sunday night [April 1] and I didn't believe I won it. So that was the reason I didn't come out when I did because I didn't believe I even won it," explained O'Donnell. "It didn't hit me until I happened to come out here."
O'Donnell, who is 49 and works at XPO Logistics, claimed his prize Thursday at Iowa Lottery headquarters in Clive. He purchased his winning ticket at Casey's, 1010 SE National Drive in Ankeny.
Even O'Donnell's wife, Debbie, didn't believe it.
"I said, 'I got four numbers and the Powerball ball, which is $50,000,'" he said. "And she just kind of looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. She didn't believe me."
The winning numbers in that night's $50 million jackpot drawing were: 8-24-52-55-61 and Powerball 21. The Power Play® number was 3. No one won the Powerball jackpot that night. Wednesday's estimated jackpot is $89 million.
Now that O'Donnell knows he actually won, he has some good ideas on how to spend his winnings.
"I was thinking about going and getting a new truck," he said. "And then start paying off some bills."
Winning numbers may be checked at the lottery website at www.ialottery.com, on the lottery's mobile app or through the winning numbers hot line at (515) 323-4633. Winning numbers may also be checked with lottery retail outlets or by calling the lottery at (515) 725-7900 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
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