The decision to make a pit stop at Pilot Travel Centers, 102 Fore Drive in Wayland, resulted in a $50,000 top prize on a “Crossword Plus” Scratchers ticket for one lucky Missouri Lottery player.

“We are truck drivers and while we were stopped, I decided to buy a ticket,” said the winner. “Crosswords are one of my favorite games to play.”

Scratching the ticket before getting back on the road, she couldn’t contain her excitement when she discovered her win.

“You always think if you win, you will be calm and not draw attention,” her partner laughed. “The whole store knew before we left!”

So far, “Crossword Plus” players have won over $12.4 million in prizes. More than $3.2 million in prizes remain unclaimed, including two additional $50,000 prizes.

In FY25, players in Clark County won more than $1.3 million in Missouri Lottery prizes, retailers received more than $130,000 in commissions and bonuses, and more than $437,000 in Lottery proceeds went to education programs in the county.