4/10/2006 - 4:05 PM

Houma Group Wins $200,000 Powerball Prize

Photo Caption: Pictured from L to R: L. Canafax, C. Breaux, W. Pitre, V. Pitre, Sam Pitre, B. Prosperie, L. Short and D. Bourg.

BATON ROUGE - A group of seven coworkers at a trucking company in Houma arrived at the Louisiana Lottery Corporation's Headquarters in a white limousine Monday to claim a $200,000 prize from the April 8 Powerball drawing.

Vanessa Pitre claimed the prize on behalf of six others with whom she plans to share the prize, D. Bourg, C. Breaux, L. Canafax, L. Short, B. Prosperie and W. Pitre.

Pitre's ticket matched all five white balls drawn but not the red Powerball to win the prize. The ticket was a "quick pick," meaning the numbers were randomly generated by the Lottery's retailer terminal.

Pitre purchased the winning ticket at Cajun Magic Truck Stop on East Main Street in Houma. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus for selling Pitre the winning ticket. 

For the past six years, the group has pooled money to purchase $2 worth of Powerball and Lotto tickets for every Wednesday and Saturday drawing.

The limousine driver and owner of Sam's Limousine Service, Sam Pitre, is related to several of the winners and gladly agreed to chauffer them to Lottery headquarters to claim their prize,  "I usually buy my own tickets, but I think I'm going to start playing with these ladies.  Hopefully, we'll be back on Thursday when we hit the jackpot!" he said.

The winning numbers for the April 8 Powerball drawing were 4-23-35-43-44 and the Powerball number was 35.

Persons must be at least 21 years old to purchase a Lottery ticket. Anyone who has a gambling problem or friends and family of anyone with a gambling problem are encouraged to call toll-free 1-877-770-7867 for help.