A Maryland man threw away a $250,000 Mega Millions ticket before realizing his mistake and finding it after a 90-minute search.

The 49-year-old man, whose name wasn't released by Maryland Lottery officials, bought several tickets for the March 9 drawing. After checking them and thinking none was a winner, he threw them out.

A Maryland Lottery employee told the winner's brother that a $250,000 winning ticket had been sold at the store — Barnabas Liquors in Temple Hills.

"I immediately got a report from the store's lottery terminal to find out what the numbers were," the man said.

"I called my wife to tell her we won the $250,000 winning Mega Millions prize, but I was looking for the ticket in the trash."

He said it took about an hour and a half to find the ticket.

The winner and his wife plan to use the winnings to pay bills and take a trip to Europe.

Mega Millions drawings occur each Tuesday and Saturday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Thanks to truesee for the tip.