Daniel Roberts of Asheville said he plans to take his 92-year-old grandmother and family on a dream vacation after he won a $250,000 lottery prize.

“My grandmother is my life,” Roberts said. “All she wants is to go somewhere pretty, so I’m going to make that happen.”

His good fortune happened when he stopped to get gas for his lawn mower on his day off. Roberts bought the winning Hit $500 ticket where he works, George’s Mini Market on Old County Home Road in Asheville.

“I took it back to my truck to scratch it,” Roberts said. “I cranked on the AC because it was hot outside. I scratched the ticket and started shaking when I saw what I won.”

He claimed his prize Thursday. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $176,876. He also plans to use some of the money to fix up his house.

The $5 ticket launched in July with six top prizes of $250,000. Since Robert won the last top prize, the lottery will take steps to end the game.

Ticket sales from instant games like Hit $500 make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $670 million a year for education. For details on how $11.8 million in lottery funds made a difference in Buncombe County this last year, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.