Cassidy is recovering in an undisclosed hospital after being involved in a serious car accident on Wednesday night in New Jersey.

The rapper was a passenger in an SUV en route to a studio in Yonkers, New York, when a U-Haul truck swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the SUV. The truck crashed into the side of the vehicle that Cassidy was sitting in, according to a J Records spokesperson and members of Cassidy's camp.

Cassidy was rushed to the hospital, suffering a fractured skull. A large number of bones in the left side of his face were also broken, according to his people. Cassidy is in critical condition and is said to be breathing on his own. On Thursday afternoon (October 5) he underwent a CAT scan; his reps report Cassidy's doctors as saying his brain activity is normal, adding that the rapper is heavily sedated and his injuries are not life-threatening. None of the four other passengers in the vehicle were injured.

On Thursday evening, Cassidy's friend and collaborator Swizz Beatz e-mailed MTV News saying, "Cass is like my brother, and this has been such a rough year for him. We're all praying and staying positive during this time. Thanks to everyone for their continued support, and please keep Cassidy and his family in your prayers." He expressed similar sentiments on L.A. radio station Power 106 on Thursday afternoon. Cassidy has been working on his third album for Swizz's Full Surface label, which is affiliated with J Records, for the past several months.

The rapper was released from prison in March after serving eight months. He had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter and other charges stemming from the 2005 shooting death of Desmond Hawkins (see "Cassidy Released From Jail After Serving Eight Months").