Not counting traffic

The Times' Sharon Bernstein reports that L.A. throws away a lot of useful traffic data:

Because the information is discarded, it cannot be used to determine over time where traffic is increasing -- or by how much. In fact, city officials said they don't have traffic counts for some of the city's busiest intersections -- and can't say how much congestion has increased over the years. The lack of traffic data is becoming more of a vexing issue at City Hall and in L.A. neighborhoods, especially in the midst of a building boom that has increased both residential and office development.

Two bad crashes

One now developing in the Big Bear area:

Highway 18 is closed in both directions between Running Springs and Big Bear Lake after a U.S. Forest Service truck plunged over a cliff west of Big Bear Lake, according to the California Highway Patrol. Emergency crews will land helicopters on the highway to rescue six people in the truck who went 150 feet off the side of Highway 18. The highway will be closed for an undetermined amount of time while several fire crews perform the rescue. (Press-Enterprise)

Then this closer to home:

Four children and two adults were hit by a vehicle while crossing a street in South Los Angeles tonight, a fire official said. The pedestrians were struck at Vernon Avenue and Wall Street around 8:25 p.m., said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Ron Myers. The victims were treated at the scene and taken to area hospitals, Myers said. No other information was immediately available. (CNN)