A Citgo gas station in Crestwood recently sold a Mega Millions game ticket worth $56 million. (Illinois Lottery)

       A frequent customer of a Crestwood gas station who stopped by nearly every day has been a no-show since June 15.

       That’s when he learned he was holding a Mega Millions ticket worth $56 million, the largest in-state lottery prize since 2017, according to the Illinois Lottery.

       The customer came into the Citgo station at 13830 S. Pulaski Road June 15 to check his ticket numbers, and discovering his good fortune “he was so excited that he basically fell to the floor,” the station’s owner said Thursday.

       The owner said he was told by an employee what happened, and that the customer got back up, shouted he had won and dashed out the door.

       “He hasn’t been in here since,” the owner said, noting the customer was known to come by “at least once a day.”

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       He said he doesn’t know anything more about the winner, such as where he lives.

       Lou Presta, Crestwood’s mayor, said Thursday he has received numerous calls from residents asking if he knows who the winner is, but he doesn’t.

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       “He’s going to have a lot of new friends,” Presta said. “I hope he can use the money and enjoys the rest of his life.”

       The numbers for that game were drawn June 8, and the winner has a year to step forward and claim the prize and can stay anonymous, according to the lottery.

       As word has spread about the multimillion dollar ticket being sold at the station, “we’re seeing a lot more people coming in to buy lottery tickets,” perhaps thinking some of the winning customer’s luck will rub off on them, the station owner said.

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       He said he has owned the business for just a few months, and that it has sold winning tickets for smaller prizes of perhaps $1,000 or $2,000, but nothing like $56 million.

       The station will receive $500,000, before taxes, and the owner said he invest that money back into the business.

       mnolan@tribpub.com

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