LA Ink Star Hospitalized After Taxi Crash

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!!!

The cabbie quickly jumped back in the taxi and tried to slam on the brake -- but he was so flustered, that he accidentally hit the gas ... sending the car roaring back into two parked cars.

Ruthless says she was rushed to a nearby hospital ... where she was treated for neck and back injuries. She was released the next day ... but tells us, "I'm still in a lot of pain but recovering"