Fall River Man Is First In Mass. To Hit Powerball Jackpot
FALL RIVER (CBS) - A local man who was struggling to make ends meet has hit it big.
James Freeman just became the first person ever in Massachusetts to hit the Powerball jackpot.
Freeman is a formal civil service worker for the Navy. He has been living on a disability check after injuring his back years ago.
He says he can hardly comprehend the check for $25.6 million.
"It's unbelievable," he said. "I don't even know how much it is to tell you the truth."
WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports
His strategy was simple. He plays the lottery every day. He has no special combination of numbers and always goes for the quick pick, just like he did yesterday.
Freeman, who doesn't have a car, hitched a ride from longtime friend Russ Gamson to lottery headquarters. He already has a plan for some of the money.
"I'm going to get a Hyundai Elantra, that's all I want," Freeman said.
The jackpot ticket was purchased at Joe's Market, right across the street from his Fall River apartment. The store gets $50,000 for selling the winner.
