Woman comes forward as owner of million-dollar lottery ticket purchased at area 7-Eleven

Maria Melendez purchased her winning lottery ticket at the Frye Road 7-Eleven on Oct. 11.

The Virginia Lottery has announced the winner of a $1 million Mega Millions ticket purchased in the Route 1 area on Oct. 11.

Maria Meledez came forward as the lucky person who bought the ticket at the 7-Eleven at 8434 Frye Road in the Woodlawn area, according the Lottery. She picked the numbers based on her children’s birthdays, according to a Lottery news release.

“I couldn’t stop laughing for a very long time,” Melendez was quoted as saying in the release.

Melendez, who lives in the Richmond Highway area, told lottery officials she hopes to use her winnings to start a small business and to pay for her children’s education.

Melendez isn’t the only winner: The Frye Road 7-Eleven gets $10,000 from the Virginia Lottery for selling the winning ticket.