Lottery ticket purchased at fair nearing expiration

City News Service

A winning lottery ticket that was purchased in San Diego five months ago and is worth nearly half a million dollars will expire in less than a month, California Lottery announced Thursday.

The unknown winner has until 5 p.m. on Dec. 14 to claim the $461,407 reward, spokeswoman Cathy Doyle Johnston said.

The Fantasy 5 ticket was purchased at the San Diego County Fair from the La Jolla County Market, a Lottery retailer working the fair, on June 17. Even if the ticket is not claimed, the store owner will still get his payment for having a winning ticket. In this case, it amounts to $2,300, Johnston said.

The winning numbers on the ticket are 28, 24, 33, 39 and 30.

Winners are given 180 days from the date of the draw to claim prizes. Prize money from expired tickets goes directly to education, Johnston said.