Vladimir Putin’s favorite driver was killed while behind the wheel of an official state vehicle — a suspicious crash that has been called an “audacious threat” to the Russian president.

Putin was not in the black BMW when it was struck head-on in Moscow by a car that swerved into its lane from the opposite direction, according to surveillance video of the incident.

The unidentified chauffeur, who had more than 40 years of experience, died and the driver of the other car was in critical condition, according to reports.

The smash-up occurred Tuesday as Putin was in China for the G20 summit.

No blame has been placed for the crash, but one pro-Putin Web site was quick to theorize it was possibly an assassination attempt by foreign agents.

“It’s not very often that the head of state of a superpower nation is sent such a dramatic and violent message,” The Millennium Report said. “Such an audacious threat to the life of President Putin can only be coordinated by an inside group of foreign secret service agents.”