Pennsylvania Man Wins $50,000 During Pit Stop in Maryland

Gettysburg resident David Costella struck lottery gold on a family road trip.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:50pm

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An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph of the interior of a gas station convenience store, with a glowing display of lottery tickets visible in the foreground through the hazy, rain-streaked glass. The image captures the sense of chance and serendipity in the story.A spontaneous gas station stop during a family road trip leads to an unexpected $50,000 lottery windfall.Gettysburg Today

A Pennsylvania man named David Costella was driving home with his daughter and granddaughter when they stopped for food at a Rutter's gas station in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Costella bought a $5 scratch-off lottery ticket during the stop, and two weeks later his wife found the unscratched ticket and scanned it, revealing a $50,000 prize.

Why it matters

Lottery wins, even smaller ones, are always exciting human interest stories that can provide a feel-good moment for readers. This particular win is notable because it happened spontaneously during a routine family road trip, highlighting how unexpected and life-changing a lottery prize can be.

The details

Costella, a resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was driving home with his daughter and granddaughter when they stopped at the Rutter's gas station in Emmitsburg, Maryland. While there, he purchased a $5 Money Maker scratch-off lottery ticket. It wasn't until two weeks later that his wife found the unscratched ticket while cleaning and reminded him to check it. When Costella scanned the ticket, it revealed a $50,000 prize.

  • In early March, Costella was driving home with his family.
  • Two weeks after the trip, Costella's wife found the unscratched lottery ticket.

The players

David Costella

A resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania who won a $50,000 lottery prize.

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What they’re saying

“Some of my prize money will fund a family vacation next year.”

— David Costella

The takeaway

This unexpected lottery win during a routine family road trip is a reminder that life-changing opportunities can present themselves in the most ordinary moments. The story provides an uplifting example of how a spontaneous stop can lead to a significant financial windfall.