A resident of the US state of Iowa made a stop on the way to a friend's birthday party and ended up winning a $500,000 lottery prize, reports UPI.

Cedar Rapids resident David Smutz told Iowa Lottery officials he and his wife were on their way to a birthday party when he bought a Mega Bucks scratch-off ticket from a drugstore.

Smutz scratched the ticket off while his wife was driving, and his wife initially thought the ticket was not real.

The ticket was a $500,000 top prize winner. Smutz joked that the ticket made him more popular at the party than the friend who was being celebrated.

Smutz said he plans to use his winnings to buy a new car and travel with his wife.