For Steven Tuttle of Flat Rock, the recent gas shortage almost cost him a $1 million lottery prize.

He usually gets his gas at the Ingles on Highland Lake Road in Flat Rock, but had stopped going there when the price rose during the shortage.

“I almost didn’t stop,” Tuttle said. “When I saw that the price of gas had dropped back down, I turned around.”

While he was there, Tuttle decided to get a $1,000,000 Bonus Cash scratch-off ticket.

He scratched the $10 ticket while getting gas. When he realized he won, Tuttle was so shocked he stopped filling up his tank.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Tuttle said. “I got into my truck and locked the door. To think I came that close to not stopping.”

He claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Tuttle had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,503. He plans to use the money to pay off his house.

$1,000,000 Bonus Cash launched in July with four top prizes of $1 million. Two top prizes remain.

Ticket sales from games like $1,000,000 Bonus Cash made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $32 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Henderson County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.