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Colorado Lottery game winner in El Jebel finally claims her prize

Scott Condon
The Aspen Times
Ana D., a Western Slope resident and medical student in Mexico, claimed per Lucky For Life prize at the Colorado Lottery office in Grand Junction Thursday. She and her uncle, pictured, drove 16 hours to claim the prize.
Colorado Lottery/courtesy photo |

A 19-year-old medical student from New Castle who won $25,000 annually for the rest of her life in a Colorado Lottery game claimed her prize Thursday after waiting nearly two months.

The woman, identified only as Ana D. as allowed under state rules, matched five numbers in a Lucky for Life ticket that she purchased Aug. 1 at the El Jebel City Market.

“She bought the ticket at City Market after driving a friend to El Jebel. Ana knew the game was brand new (launched in Colorado just two weeks earlier) and decided to give it a shot,” the Colorado Lottery said on its website. Ana didn’t want a formal statement issued about her win. The available information said she was originally from Grand Junction and is now attending medical school in Mexico.



“She doesn’t have any immediate plans for the money, but she hopes to become a trauma surgeon, so we think the timing couldn’t be better,” lottery officials posted on the website.

Ana and her uncle drove 16 hours from Mexico to claim the lottery winnings in Grand Junction.



Colorado Lottery spokeswoman Kelly Tabor said Ana had 180 days to claim the prize, so she had plenty of time. However, winners usually pounce.

“Most people don’t even wait a week,” Tabor said.

Ana chose to take the annual payment rather than a lump sum option for $390,000. After taxes she will receive more than $17,000 per year. She will receive the annual payment for as long as she lives. If a winner dies prior to 20 years after winning, their estate gets the $25,000 per year through year 20.

Ana matched five of six numbers. Players pick numbers from 1 to 48 and a lucky ball number from 1 to 18. The odds of winning the $25,000 per year for life were 1 in 1,813,028.


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