Published Thursday, 30 August 2012
The rapper was driving along a street in Los Angeles with British singer Cheryl Cole in the early hours of the morning when his vehicle smashed into the side of a parked car.
A spokesman for the star initially tried to play down the incident by describing it as a "minor fender bender" and insisting "no one got hurt", but photographs have since emerged showing the pair bloodied and stunned in the aftermath of the crash.
In the images, will.i.am can be seen with blood streaming down his face after the vehicle's airbag deployed to prevent his head from striking the steering wheel.
Cole is also shown looking shocked as blood pours out of her nose and over her lips, while the rapper tenderly reaches across to comfort his pal.
Police were called to the scene, and will.i.am was then taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for treatment. He later emerged wearing a neck brace. Cole was reportedly treated for her injuries at the scene and was not taken to hospital.
The Girls Aloud star is in L.A. rehearsing for a solo tour and working on new tracks in a studio with the I Gotta Feeling hitmaker.