The driver of the car who crashed into . . . and almost KILLED . . . GEORGE CLOONEY in Italy this week is blaming the sun.
The man is 65 . . . and he says he crossed over into George's lane because he was blinded by the sun. And he didn't realize he hit someone famous until George's bodyguard ran over yelling, quote, "You hit Clooney . . . Clooney . . . the actor."
There's no update on George's condition, but Britain's "Daily Mail" tabloid says, quote, "He suffered trauma to the pelvis, hip, and knee which should take around 20 days to heal." He's recovering at home.