$93 million winner has yet to claim her lottery prize

Saturday, September 08, 2007 posted 11:57 AM EDT

Gas station owner Simon Kim has looked at the photograph of the woman captured on security tape dozens of times since Friday night, when she came into the business and purchased a winning lottery ticket worth a staggering $93 million.

Kim said he recognizes the woman, who visits his Bay Farm Island station at least once a week.

He just doesn't know her name.

Neither do California Lottery officials, who late Thursday afternoon were still waiting for her to come forward to claim the money.

What's more, officials also were waiting to hear from the individual who purchased another winning lottery ticket -- worth $152,827 -- at the nearby Safeway store on Island Drive. That person was one of eight winners in the Mega-Million drawing on Friday.

"It's still early in the week and it's after a holiday weekend," California Lottery spokeswoman Olga Gallando said. "Many people are off from work or on vacation. So right now, we're waiting."

Kim thinks the state's newest multimillionaire must know she has the winning ticket.

"Wouldn't you?" he said with incredulity, looking at her image on his computer screen. "With a prize of $93 million, wouldn't you be taking the ticket out of your pocket and checking the numbers?"

According to lottery officials, the ticket was purchased at 7:15 p.m. Friday as a Quickpick at Kim's Harbor Bay 76 service station on Mecartney Road. The winning numbers, 5-14-22-39-47, were drawn Saturday night in the SuperLotto

Plus. The mega number was 10.

The security footage shows the purchaser as a white woman in her 30s with long dark hair. She was wearing a white top and possibly blue jeans.

"That's her," Kim said, touching the computer screen.

Gallardo suggests the winner sign the ticket before redeeming it. The local lottery office is at 2489 Industrial Parkway West in Hayward.

The 51-year-old Kim began selling lottery tickets soon after he opened the service station in October 1984.

But this is the first time he has ever sold a winning ticket with such a hefty prize.

When the winner actually redeems it, Kim will receive a $465,000 bonus for selling the ticket.

The Alameda businessman, who is married with two adult children, has made no plans with what he'll do with the money.

"I don't know," Kim said with a smile. "Maybe I'll put some into the business."

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