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

The 49-year-old man, whose name wasn't released by Maryland Lottery officials, bought several tickets for the March 9 drawing. After checking his tickets, 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.

After his brother told him the news, the man called the store's lottery terminal to find out what the numbers were.

The man returned to the store and he said it took about an hour and a half to find the winning ticket.

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