Ten Bell Helicopter co-workers won Saturday's $28 million Lotto Texas jackpot, according to WFAA/Channel 8.
Each had been contributing $5 to a pool each week, the station reported on its 10 p.m. newscast."When I saw that we had all six numbers, I just lost it, man, I lost it!" Mario Mercado told Channel 8 in a phone interview.Mercado said he bought the ticket Thursday at the Crossroads Shell station at 3605 Western Center Blvd. in far north Fort Worth.The winners celebrated on Sunday at Billy Miner's Saloon in Fort Worth. Owner Dante Martinez said Monday that when he asked why the group was celebrating, "it sort of slipped out.""It couldn't have happened to a better class of people," Martinez said.Mercado told Channel 8 that all 10 called in sick Monday and went to Austin to claim their prize.Mercado is a dispatcher at a Bell Helicopter office in Roanoke, as are most of the winners.Each player will take home about $1.6 million after taxes, Mercado said.The Texas Lottery had not confirmed the winners' identities by late Monday.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
