A southern Alberta man says he plans to help out his family with his $1 million lottery win. High River resident Julio Benitez won the money on the Aug. 22 Lotto 6-49 draw. He says he had almost forgotten he bought a ticket but remembered one day when he stopped at a gas station. “I went in when I was filling up,” Benitez said in a Tuesday news release. “Then the screen went black and I thought I broke it. I didn’t understand what was happening, but the guy told me I won some money.” While the cashier made a phone call, Benitez began counting the zeros. “I thought maybe $1,000, then $10,000… I couldn’t believe it.” When the reality of the win started to set in, Benitez says he “left the store and jumped and screamed.” He says the prize money will be used to “pay bills and help his family.” “My son has a baby on the way,” he said. “This is great timing; It feels like a dream.” Benitez purchased his ticket from the Flying J in Calgary, located on 40 Street S.E.
