Andrew J. Goudsward | Asbury Park Press

Brian Johnston

SEASIDE HEIGHTS - A borough man is $2 million richer after winning big in a scratch-off game from the New Jersey Lottery.

36-year-old Andrew Diaz decided to purchase two tickets for the lottery's $90 million Platinum Payout Scratch-Off game from the Wawa on Route 9 in the Bayville section of Berkeley, according to a news release from the NJ Lottery.

Diaz told lottery officials that he previously bought scratch-off tickets once every few weeks but only won small prizes.

But not this May day. Diaz began scratching off the tickets in the Wawa parking lot immediately after leaving the store.

From New Jersey Lottery

The first one was a bust. But slowly he realized the second one would change his life forever. He had won $2 million.

Diaz lodged the ticket in a safe place and called his brother, who initially didn't believe that he had truly won. The two brothers drove to the lottery headquarters in Trenton to validate the winning ticket, according to the release.

Diaz plans on investing some of his winnings and leaving some prize money for his children. He is also considering moving to a new house or buying a new car.

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"This is a life-changer," he said in the news release. "Besides my children being born, this is the second-best feeling ever."

Contestants won a total of more than $100 million playing scratch-off games in May, lottery officials said.

View | 16 Photos

Recent lottery winners in North Jersey: photos