One injured, multiple underage drinking arrests at 2012 Chagrin Falls pumpkin roll

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio - The 2012 version of the Chagrin Falls Pumpkin Roll was held early Wednesday morning on Grove Hill, a section of North Main Street, in Chagrin Falls.

Each year since 1969, hundreds of Chagrin Falls High School juniors and seniors collect hundreds if not thousands of pumpkins and smash them in the street. It happens sometime around Halloween. The exact date is a closely guarded secret but each year police set barricades and some parents stand at the bottom of the hill watching the event and taking pictures.

This year’s roll started just after midnight with a dump truck dumping a full load of pumpkins down the hill as the students made their way up. There was also a large pile of pumpkins that had been stacked at the top of the hill. After about 15 minutes, all the pumpkins had been rolled, smashed and thrown down the hill. Once all the pumpkins coat the hill, the kids slide down the hill. This year, students used sleds, snowboards and even trash can lids.

One girl was injured this year while sliding down the hill. She suffered a back injury but officers said she was going to be OK.

Officers also made about a half dozen arrests for underage drinking.

The roll ended at about 1:25 a.m. with the kids walking home and leaving the mess for the street department to clean up.

Police issued tickets for illegal dumping to those who bring the pumpkins to the hill.