A lucky man from the USA has gone from having an empty tank to a full bank account after scooping USD 1 million on a scratch card.

Michael Schlemmer from the city of Corbin, Kentucky State, USA, had almost run out of fuel when he stopped at Convenient Food Mart on US Hwy 25 West earlier this month.

Then aside from filling up his vehicle’s tank, he decided to use the remaining cash in his pocket to buy a USD 20 (GBP 16) USD 1,000,000 (GBP 806,640) Luck Kentucky Lottery instant ticket.

Michael said in a statement obtained by Newsflash from Kentucky Lottery: “I ran out of gas, and I coasted in there.

“I had USD 40 [GBP 32] on me and bought USD 20 worth of gas and bought a ticket.”

The lucky winner continued: “I scratched it off and I looked at it and went back in the store.

“I showed the girls that sold it to me, and they about had a fit.

“The owners of the store were there, and they both started grinning.”

But he reportedly refused to believe he had won the game’s top prize until he collected the money on Thursday, 18th May.

Schlemmer said: “Nothing went through my mind.

“I just got up and went back in the store and showed it to them [store clerks]. Until I get the check in my hand, I don’t believe it.”

At lottery headquarters, the lucky bloke could choose between taking the full USD 1 million (GBP 806,640) prize in annual payments or a one-time cash option of USD 862,000 (GBP 695,323).

He chose the lump sum and headed home with a USD 616,330 (GBP 497,156) cheque after state and federal taxes.

Michael revealed that he plans to use some of the money to buy a new car, and save the rest.

He said: “I told the dealership I’m waiting for a big cheque to come in and then I hit that.”

Lottery officials added that the retailer will receive USD 8,620 (GBP 6,952) for selling the winning ticket.