First Shock: Earthquake, Second Shock: $1M Lottery Win

What are the chances?

First, an earthquake strikes and rattles Maryland.

Then you scratch some lottery tickets—because you’re bored—and you win $1 million.

Oh, and you've won $10,000 in the lottery once before.

The chances are slim, but the result is one happy Catonsville couple, according to the Maryland Lottery.

A federal employee was working Tuesday afternoon when the ground started moving below him. He said he thought it was a loud remodeling project, but was soon ordered to evacuate because it was, instead, the in decades.

“I thought to myself, it was a great time to scratch off some of my lottery tickets,” the winner, who was not identified, said in an interview with the State Lottery.  He bought the winning ticket at the at 40 West Citgo in Ellicott City.

Despite his exceptional day, however, the winner may have thought his win was overdue.

“He had been certain he’d win for the past six months,” his wife said.

The Maryland Lottery called the winner an “avid player.” He’d previously won $10,000 playing the Mega Millions game and has high hopes for the future.

He hopes to win big—bigger—in the future by playing the Mega Millions and Powerball games.

In the meantime, the winner said he plans to pay some bills, take a vacation and stash the rest of his winnings in the bank.