WINNING FORM: An Ocean County, NJ, employee who would not give his name gets right back to work pumping fuel yesterday after winning part of the Powerball jackpot in a pool with 15 co-workers. (
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He’s the richest pump jockey in New Jersey.
The state worker handling this fuel line (pictured) is one of the 16 colleagues who split a third of the Powerball jackpot — $3.8 million each after taxes — yet he dutifully reported to the job yesterday.
This suddenly rich Joe Lunchpail would not identify himself, but said he’s still stunned by his incredible turn of luck.
“It’s exciting, I’m in disbelief,” he said. “[Hearing about the win], you obviously think someone is playing a joke on you.”
The winner said he’s married with two stepkids and doesn’t know how he’ll spend his lottery loot.
“When the [lottery] pool gets large enough, we [co-workers] all play together,” he said. “I have no idea [what to do with the money], no, not yet.”
Ocean County spokesman Donna Flynn said she believes many of the lottery winners showed up to work in Toms River yesterday, despite their big haul of $61.9 million after taxes.
“It’s an exciting day for us,” Flynn said. “We’ve been informed we have 16 employees holding the winning lottery ticket. We are thrilled for them. I believe some of them, if not all of them, have shown up for work today.”
The big win was made all the more sweet in light of the widespread suffering last year’s Hurricane Sandy imposed on so many Ocean County residents.
“I’m really happy for everyone . . . Probably at least one or two people lost their home in the storm,” said Lou Hahn, a mechanic who wasn’t a part of the winning investment.
“I think they could quit if they wanted to. I think they have a lot of legal stuff they need to work out. I did see some of them — they’re happy.”
The killer storm isn’t far from anyone’s mind on the Jersey Shore, according to Don Parker, another co-worker.
“It’s a thrilling thing for 16 families, particularly for those affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said Parker, a senior garage attendant.
“It’s a blessing, especially when anything good happens to an area that’s been devastated. There’s guys here who couldn’t get to their home for days.”
Even the boss was delighted with the good fortune of these 16 lucky ducks.
“This is just unbelievable. I am so happy for my staff. They told me. I knew right away,” said Jim Pine, director of vehicle services.
“We are a close-knit family. They’re all on cloud nine. They are really happy. They were all here yesterday [Thursday] because that’s the type of people they are — they are hardworking-class people and they all came and did what they had to do yesterday.”
The winning numbers drawn Wednesday were 5, 25, 30, 58, 59 with the Powerball of 32.
There were three winning tickets — two purchased in New Jersey and one in Minnesota. The second Garden State winner did not immediately step forward.
That unknown winner bought a ticket at a Super Stop & Shop in South Brunswick.