Industry News
The man who claimed he was stuck on a ski lift at Gore Mountain Ski Center for 17 hours overnight one-day last month was charged Friday with making a false statement to police, reports The Post Star.
Isaac Hyde, 37, of North Creek, was charged with making a punishable false written statement, a misdemeanor, after an investigation by State Police into his claim that he was stuck on a stationary lift when the ski center closed on March 31. He was released, pending prosecution in Johnsburg Town Court.
Hyde, a former Gore Mountain employee, reported that he was on the North Quad late that Saturday afternoon when it stopped as he headed up for one last ski trip down. He was an estimated 30 feet off the ground at the time. He was not found until the lift was restarted at 8 am Sunday, and he reported he was on the lift overnight as an inch or two of snow fell and temperatures dropped into the 20s. He was unhurt and declined medical treatment.
The fact that he was not hypothermic or exhibiting any signs of frostbite made ski center staff and police question his account. Gore employees called State Police that morning, and Hyde gave a sworn written statement.
State Police would not say Friday if they believe Hyde fabricated the report and noted only that troopers and an investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Investigation could prove that at least part of what Hyde told the agency in a sworn statement was untrue.
Hyde’s lawyer, Marc Zuckerman, maintained in early April that Hyde had been stranded, despite apparent doubts by police as they re-interviewed his client. He said Hyde was hardy, used to working in the cold, and could keep moving on the lift to stay warm.
