$1 million Lottery winner from Oak Harbor

The winner of a $1 million Washington Lottery ticket purchased in Oak Harbor stepped forward this week.

The winner of a $1 million Washington Lottery ticket purchased in Oak Harbor stepped forward this week.

William Johnson of Oak Harbor went to the state lottery’s regional office in Everett Wednesday to claim the grand prize for winning the June 2 Mega Millions game.

He bought the ticket at the Safeway store on Erie Street.

Washington Lottery officials would only release Johnson’s name and a few other details. He told officials he didn’t want to speak to the media.

Johnson told Washington Lottery officials that he and his wife were planning to go to Hawaii for their 50th wedding anniversary and the winnings would help, said Jana Jones, legal counsel with the state lottery.

He also said he was in the process of restoring a 1996 van and the money will help with that project, too, Jones said.

Johnson matched all five numbers in the game to win the $1 million jackpot, but didn’t match the Mega Ball. The winning numbers were 2, 9, 11, 22 and 23.

The Oak Harbor Safeway store will receive a seller’s bonus of 1 percent of the winnings, which is $10,000.

The winner doesn’t actually receive $1 million.

Washington Lottery withholds 25 percent of the jackpot amount in accordance with state law and the IRS tax code, Jones said.

The balance is then taxed at the end of the year as income, she said.

Johnson told lottery officials he plans to set up an account with a local veterinarian to help pets in need.

“That’s not uncommon at all,” Jones said. “Lottery winners are unbelievably generous people. We see it time and again.”