Charlotte woman had to calm down after winning $200,000 top prize

Erica Wilson of Charlotte was at a loss for words Monday morning when she realized she won a $200,000 top prize playing the Prize Link Connect scratch-off game.

“I was shocked for a minute, then I calmed down,” she said.

It was a regular day for Wilson when she decided to grab the $5 ticket. She had consistently played Prize Link Connect, one of her favorite games.

“I knew I was going to win big on that game,” said Wilson.

She bought her lucky ticket at the Coulwood BP on Belhaven Boulevard in Charlotte.

Wilson’s mom was in the room when she won. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“I was nervous and screaming,” her mom said.

Wilson arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to claim the prize. After required state and federal tax withholdings, she took home $144,021.

She said she plans to save the money.

Prize Link Connect debuted in April with four $200,000 top prizes. Three remain to be claimed. The odds of winning the $1 million prize are 1 in 1.59 million.

Education programs in Mecklenburg County received $60 million in support from lottery funds last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.