“I’ve got to deliver this encryption key to super secret government operatives before aliens blow up the world” and “Seriously, I’m on my way to save puppies from a burning pet store” are pretty good excuses, but the truth worked great for one man caught speeding — he’d just won $50,000 in the lottery.

An unusual excuse, yes but it just so happened to be true, say police in Hingham, Mass. (via CBS Boston)

The 22-year-old man told cops he’d won the $50,000 on a $2 Massachusetts State Lottery scratch-off ticket and was racing to the lotto headquarters to collect his prize. The lottery confirmed he’d won.

The ticket provided just the proof he needed, and police decided to just issue him a verbal warning and sent him off to cash in on his newly rich future.

“Today was really his lucky day,” the department added on Twitter.

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