Cincinnati Bengals receiver CHRIS HENRY was seriously injured yesterday, after he fell out of the back of a moving pickup truck during an altercation with his fiancée, Loleini Tonga.

--The accident occurred at the Tonga family home just outside of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina.

--Police said Henry and Tonga got into an argument . . . and when Tonga tried to leave the residence in the pickup truck, Henry jumped into the back.

--A police spokesman said, quote, "At some point while she was driving, Mr. Henry came out of the back of the vehicle."

--Henry was found in the middle of the street, about a half-mile from the house.  Police say he suffered LIFE-THREATENING head injuries.

--A Bengals spokesman said, quote, "We are aware he was in an accident and that his injuries are very serious.  We are obviously staying in touch with the situation and are ready to offer whatever assistance we can."

--Henry was already out for the season after breaking his left forearm in a game last month.

(--Henry was actually released by the team in 2007, due to various run-ins with the law for drug and weapons offenses.)

(--They brought him back a few months later.  In an interview this past October, Henry credited Tonga with helping him straighten out his life.)

(--TMZ is reporting that just hours before the incident, Tonga posted a message on her MySpace page, saying she and Henry had just put a deposit down on a wedding photographer and rings.)