TRENTON (Jan. 10, 2019) - Another happy winner, Mercedes Restrepo, came to Lottery Headquarters in Lawrenceville Township recently to file her claim for the $166,691 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot from the Aug. 12th drawing. Mercedes told Lottery officials she has been playing the lottery for over 35 years and said she enjoys playing a variety of New Jersey Lottery draw games, including Jersey Cash 5. She selects her own numbers, using family birthdays and other numbers with special meaning.

The morning after the drawing, Mercedes took her ticket into a retailer so that she could scan it to see if it was a winner. When she scanned the ticket, a message appeared that said, “See clerk.” Mercedes had no idea why that message displayed and handed the ticket over to the clerk, who looked at the ticket and said, “You won the big jackpot!” Mercedes was shocked – she could hardly believe it, but was so glad she had won a prize so big.

Mercedes first told her sister and then a few other family members about her good news. They were happy for her. Her sister gladly drove her to Lottery Headquarters to file her claim for that jakpot.

Mercedes Restrepo is retired from a career in electronics and, now, likes to spend her time taking care of her grandchildren. She’s not yet sure what she’ll do with the winnings, but she said it will provide her family with some financial flexibility.

The lucky retailer that sold the ticket was Junior Mini Market, 67 W. Palisades Ave., Englewood in Bergen County.