#powerball "Warn 23" claim $50,000 Powerball win

February 1st, 2016

Oregon's final $50,000 prize from the record-breaking $1.6 billion Powerball draw on January 13 is in, and 23 people shared it.

Employees at Warn Industries, a company specializing in off-road equipment and accessories, entered an office pool and all shared on their $50,000 prize. The group was one number away from sharing the recent $1.6 billion Powerball prize, with one of their tickets having four numbers and the power ball. The group claimed their prize last Tuesday.

Ravin Chandra, who works at Warn was in charge of the pool, and went around the building asking his fellow employees if they would like to buy Powerball tickets with the group.

"We are from different departments and areas, but work in the same building in Milwaukie," Chandra said. "It was something I just thought we should do. I have won three times playing video lottery and so I was the 'lucky one' sent to purchase the tickets."

One of the tickets Chandra purchased, matched four numbers and the Powerball - meaning the group had won $50,000. Nearly the entire group traveled to Salem together to claim their prize Tuesday - approximately $1,700 for each after taxes. Chandra purchased the tickets at the Tik Tok Deli, on Division in Portland.

"It's not huge money, but it's a cool prize," said David Derr, a 30 year employee of Warn. "I told my family, I couldn't contain it."

The group shared in the opinion that they couldn't believe they were one number off from winning the jackpot. Chandra bought the group quick pick tickets and said when he looked at his cell phone to check the numbers, he couldn't believe it.

As you might imagine from employees of a company specializing in off-road equipment and accessories, the winners said tires, transmissions and other truck parts were on the wish list for a couple of the winners.

"My truck won't go into reverse, so I'm getting that fixed," Matt Moody said.

"I'm getting new tires," Derr added.

Several of the winners said they normally don't play lottery, but it sounded fun doing something with co-workers and enjoyed dreaming together about the big $1.6 billion prize.

"That was the really cool thing, the company didn't have to give us time off for all of us to come down and claim our prizes together, but they did," Moody said. "It's a great company to work for, they take care of their people and this is just another example of that."

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