Thousands try for jackpot of $355 million

Associated Press

PHOENIX

Thousands of people lined up in 41 states and in Washington, D.C., ahead of the Mega Millions drawing Tuesday in hopes of buying the winning ticket for the lottery game’s $355 million jackpot.

The prize is second- largest in Mega Millions history, said Arizona Lottery spokeswoman Cindy Esquer. The lottery’s largest prize of $390 million in March 2007 was the richest in U.S. history.

“We got a pretty good, steady flow of traffic as far as buying the tickets goes,” said Bill Evans, owner of Beaver Dam Service Station in northwest Arizona. “As the day progresses we’ll have a line out the door, I’m sure.”

The jackpot’s cash option works out to about $224 million.