Mega Millions Winners Born To Run

By Jeff Deminski

As Bruce Springsteen sang, "it's a death trap, it's a suicide rap, we gotta get out while we're young." Or at least while the $9 million lasts. A couple who won a Mega Millions jackpot of $9.4 million after taxes has fled the state according to the store where the winning ticket was purchased. The ticket purchase itself was an odyssey.

Karl Herkert walked into the Dollar Subs convenience store in Kearny asking for a Power Ball ticket. The clerk mistakenly gave him a Mega Millions ticket. Luckiest mistake ever as it paid off. He shares the winnings with Barbara Matta. The couple is deserving. She works for a security company. Karl lost a job and was on unemployment for quite awhile. About a year ago, he finally found work driving a truck.

According to NJ.com,

When Merkel learned the day after the drawing that he won, he ran screaming through the streets, which actually led to someone calling the police, according to the store workers and Herket's friend, Danny, who declined to give his last name.

Nonetheless, I wish everyone well and I'm happy for them. Now back to the original point. They hit the jackpot and they left town. Born to run. See ya, New Jersey.

Is Jersey really that bad? If you suddenly had millions of dollars and could live anywhere you wanted and never had to work again, would you do the same? I might get a place in Arizona just to spend the winters, but to leave permanently? I've done my moving around, and I always end up back here in my home state. I think I'm all set. But what about you?