Aliso Viejo Student Wins $1,000 in Free Tolls

There's no such thing as a free ride. Usually. 

Chosen randomly out of 5,771,275 drivers, an Aliso Viejo resident won $1,000 worth of free tolls from the Transportation Corridor Authority earlier this month.

“I was happy and surprised when I found out I won, because I have never won anything in my life,” said dental student Elena Bedilo in a release. "I like to take the toll roads (because) the ride is so beautiful and relaxing, … sometimes I even miss my exit!"

Bedilo commutes from her home to school in Pomona five days a week.  

 The $1,000 in free tolls should cover her trips on the toll roads to and from school for an entire semester, according to Transportation Corridor Association spokesperson Lori Olin.  

The TCA began hosting monthly drawings for $1,000 in free tolls in November, and one winner is randomly selected each month.

Bedilo was selected in April from all of the registered trips taken in March. Her winning transaction took place on March 16 at the southbound Windy Ridge Toll Plaza on the 241 toll road. 

So far, $5,000 in free tolls have been given away to FasTrak drivers – FasTrak allows customers to drive every toll road and bridge in California without stopping to pay as tolls are automatically deducted from their pre-paid accounts. 

All trips taken on the toll roads during a particular month will be eligible for that month’s drawing only, according to Olin.

However, only the FasTrak account holder is eligible to win, not the person driving at the time of the winning trip. 

For more information visit thetollroads.com/1000.