Police calling man a hero for saving several people, dogs caught in blizzard conditions

Cheektowaga, N.Y.

Authorities in New York state are calling a man a hero for rescuing several people who got stuck in blizzard conditions over the holiday weekend.

According to the Cheektowaga Police Department, a man named Jay left a note behind at Pine Hill School over Christmas weekend after breaking into the school.

Authorities said Jay apologized in the note for the break-in but said he needed to borrow a snowblower to help clear a path to get people inside and out of the deadly blizzard conditions.

The police department shared images from the school’s security cameras that captured Jay’s actions that evening.

According to police, Jay wrote in his note that he had gotten stuck at 8 p.m. on Dec. 23 and slept in his truck with two strangers just trying not to die.

The man noted that seven older people also got stuck and were out of fuel that night. Police said Jay shared that he had to break into the school to save everyone and get them shelter, along with food and a bathroom.

Officers said they were initially alerted about an alarm at the school but couldn’t respond due to the dangerous weather conditions.

Police noted that once they entered the school, they found a freezer still fully stocked with food, and everything that the group used was returned to the same spot it was found.

Police said the group appeared to eat and use equipment just enough for them to survive. Additionally, two dogs were able to take shelter that evening.

Cheektowaga police said they first shared the rescue story to help identify Jay and thank him for his actions.

On Thursday, the department said the man was identified with the help of family and friends.

Authorities said Jay and the group are now like family after surviving that evening and are planning a summer get-together.

College student wins $1 million lottery prize thanks to lucky scratch-off at 7-Eleven

Virginia Beach, Va.

A college student in Virginia made a lucky lottery purchase while stopping at a convenience store earlier this month.

According to the Virginia Lottery, Perla Gomez turned a $30 scratch-off ticket at a Virginia Beach-area 7-Eleven into a $1 million prize.

Lottery officials said Gomez hit the jackpot while playing a Virginia Lottery’s Commonwealth scratcher game.

Officials said the college student was with her uncle and friend when she scratched the winning ticket.

Gomez had the choice of taking the full $1 million prize over 30 years or a one-time cash option of $640,205 before taxes. She chose the cash option, according to the lottery.

Gomez reportedly cashed the game’s final top prize. Lottery officials said they have since closed the game per their policy to end scratcher games after the last top prize has been claimed.

According to the Virginia Lottery, the chances of winning the game’s top prize were 1 in 1,060,800.

Good Samaritans help officers lift stolen car off trapped 65-year-old bicyclist

Watsonville, Calif.

Good Samaritans helped officers rescue a cyclist who ended up trapped under a stolen car last week.

The Watsonville Police Department shared body camera footage that captured the intense moments that afternoon as residents joined officers to help free a 65-year-old man from underneath the vehicle.

Authorities said the actions of those at the scene that day saved the man’s life.

The department said officers were approaching the stolen car when the suspect jumped out of the driver’s side and ran off. The moving vehicle then struck the cyclist, trapping him.

According to police, the suspected car thief was eventually caught and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail.

Veteran uses ‘intuition’ to win 6 lottery prizes in same drawing

Fall River, Mass.

A Massachusetts man said he used his “intuition” to win multiple prizes in the same lottery drawing.

According to the Massachusetts Lottery, Raymond Roberts Sr. won six $25,000 yearly prizes for life in the multi-state Lucky for Life game after purchasing multiple tickets with the same numbers earlier this month.

Roberts cited “intuition” as his reason for purchasing multiple tickets with the same numbers.

The Vietnam veteran said the numbers were a combination of anniversary dates and birthdays that he has been playing in multiple lottery games for over 20 years.

Lottery officials said Roberts chose the $390,000 cash option for five of his prizes, receiving $1,950,000 before taxes.

Roberts shared that he plans to use a portion of his winnings to buy a motorcycle.

Roberts purchased his winning tickets at Royal Liquors on Main Street in Fall River. The store received a total of $30,000 in bonuses for its sale of the tickets, according to the Massachusetts Lottery.

Family dog kills 4-day-old baby girl, police say

Cave Springs, Ark.

Police in Arkansas say a baby has died after it was bitten by a dog.

According to the Cave Springs Police Department, officers responded to a home on Dec. 14 regarding a family dog that bit a four-day-old baby.

Authorities said the newborn suffered severe injuries to her head and was transported to a hospital.

The baby girl was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock but eventually died.

According to police, the dog, a 3-year-old Siberian Husky, was seized and euthanized by a veterinary service in accordance with state law.

Cave Springs police did not immediately identify the family involved but said the incident remains under investigation.