‘LA INK’ STAR HOSPITALIZED AFTER CAR ACCIDENT

"LA Ink" star Ruthless was rushed to an L.A. hospital this week after a taxi she was riding in smashed into another car ... and then backed into TWO MORE vehicles -- TMZ has learned.

TMZ spoke with 26-year-old Ruth "Ruthless" Pineda ... who says her cabbie jumped out of the car to check out the damage after the initial collision ... but for some reason, the taxi was IN REVERSE!!!