Powerball lottery tickets is seen in Washington, DC on November 26, 2012. A Rhode Island man nearly threw away a year-old $50,000 winning PowerBall lottery ticket, until his friend encouraged him to check the numbers. Photo by UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

JOHNSTON, R.I., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A Rhode Island man nearly threw out a $50,000 winning lottery ticket he bought about a year earlier.

According to Patch, the man was cleaning out his car when he found the year-old PowerBall ticket and planned to throw it out until his friend had him check the numbers.


"When he checked the ticket, he was surprised to learn it was a $50,000 winner," the Rhode Island Lottery Commission said. "He said he is still in shock and does not have any immediate plans for the money won."

ABC 10 reported the man purchased the winning ticket on Sept. 16, 2015 and it nearly when unclaimed after being selected as a winner in a Feb. 3 drawing.

The man had until Sept. 16, 2016 at 4 p.m. to claim the prize totaling about $30,000 before the money is sent into the state's general fund.