Area woman becomes instant millionaire

Ballston Spa woman becomes instant millionaire from lottery game

A Ballston Spa woman is feeling $1 million richer after claiming her winnings as the first top prize winner in New York Lottery’s Mayhem scratch-off ticket game.

Kelly Busch, 59, was as shocked as anybody when she realized she had just become an instant millionaire.

She cashed in a $10 winning Lottery ticket and bought two $1 million Mayhem tickets because she liked the name. One of those tickets turned out to be a $1 million winner.

“My first thought was, this can’t be right,” Busch said.

She purchased the tickets at Union Foodmart, 2 South St. in Ballston Spa, while out doing laundry. After returning home, she scratched them off. The first one she played was the jackpot winner.

“It was a real shock to me,” Busch said. “I didn’t want to lose it, so I came right down here to Schenectady to claim it.”

Lottery’s Yolanda Vega and Anna Lichorat presented Busch with a ceremonial $1 million check at Lottery Headquarters in Schenectady on Wednesday.

Busch chose to receive her prize as a one-time lump sum payment. She will receive a net check totaling $537,440 after required withholdings.

“My first thought is to buy a new car,” she said.

Lottery officials also presented a ceremonial $1 million check to Albany resident Gregg Collar, 45, the latest jackpot winner in the New York Poker scratch-off ticket game. Collar purchased his winning ticket at Emil News, located at 99 Washington Ave. in Albany, using money cashed in from other Lottery tickets.

“I knew right away it was a winner, but showed it to a coworker to be sure,” he said.

Collar purchased his ticket on a Friday and had to wait until the following Monday to claim his prize.

“I put it in a fire-proof box at home and left it there until I could bring it in,” he said. “I didn’t want to touch it.”

Collar chose to receive his prize as a one-time lump sum payment. He will receive a net check totaling $544,158 after required withholdings.

“I really have no idea what I’ll do with the winnings,” Collar said. “I plan to stay within my means, but it will definitely make life easier.”

PHOTO PROVIDED Kelly Busch, center, of Ballston Spa picked up her ceremonial $1 million check Wednesday at New York Lottery headquarters in Schenectady after winning the top prize in the Mayhem scratch-off ticket game. She’s joined by Lottery’s Anna Lichorat, left, and Yolanda Vega, right.