BALTIMORE — “I almost didn’t buy it,” a Virginia resident said of the $50,000 winning Pick 5 ticket while on his way home earlier this month. The “mistake ticket” he almost refused produced the biggest prize he has ever won and ended a dispiriting streak of bad luck.

The Accomack County resident was returning home from a Labor Day weekend visit to Washington, D.C. when he saw River Market in Pocomoke, one of the last Maryland Lottery retailers he’d pass before crossing the state line.

“I haven’t had much luck these last few weeks,” he said after claiming his prize at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, “mostly with Virginia tickets, but Maryland, too. The numbers just have not been coming up my way.”

Deciding at the last moment to try his luck one more time, the retired grocery store manager bought a Pick 5 ticket for the Sept. 1 evening drawing at River Market. He chose a number combination he’s used often in the past. “I asked the clerk for a 50-cent ticket but she accidentally printed one for $1.”

Here’s where the player’s luck changed direction. “She apologized and was about to take the ticket back, but I asked to keep it. Don’t know why, I just felt like it might get things going my way again.”

Our winner discovered later than night that his instinct had not misled him. “I pulled up the Lottery website and there was my Pick 5 number. I could not believe my eyes. I said to myself, ‘It’s finally happened. You’ve finally hit the number.’”

The owners of River Market at 34099 Market Street will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for selling the $50,000 winning ticket. The Virginia winner hinted that he just might visit the Somerset County convenience store, soon. He plans to fund several home improvement projects with his winnings.

Also on Sept. 1, River Market was credited for selling three $25,000 Pick 5 tickets.