A LIFELONG Hawthorn Hawks fan who has always wanted to meet Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin was the owner of the first car the Sydney Swans recruit ploughed into last night.

Lauren Keely’s 1987 Mazda 323 was the first of four cars to be hit when Franklin lost control of his girlfriend Jesinta Campbell’s Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving.

Ms Keely, a casual teacher, said her car was pushed two metres forward from the impact, which severely damaged the back right hand-side of the vehicle, crippling the rear right passenger door.

News_Image_File: No hard feelings ... Avid Hawks fan Lauren Keely doesn’t hold a grudge but is worried she won’t be able to replace her car. Picture: John GraingerShe realised it was Franklin, who was not keen on being recognised as police interviewed him metres from the carnage he had caused, straight away.

“I knew it would be big deal. He maintained his distance, the whole building was watching what was happening. I think he was trying to avoid everything, which is understandable,” she said.

“I was inside when I heard a loud bang from outside, so immediately I thought there had been a car accident and I knew my car was parked here so I was bit worried.

“One of the two cars in front of mine was at a right angle to the curb, Buddy’s car was in the middle and the other car had been whacked onto the nature strip and the whole wheel had been taken off from underneath it.”

News_Image_File: The scene of the accident on New South Head Road in the exclusive eastern Sydney suburb of Rose Bay. Picture: John GraingerThe lifelong Hawthorn Hawks AFL fan, who grew up in Echuca in country Victoria, said she had always wanted to meet Franklin, just not under these circumstances.

Ms Keely said Franklin did not speak to any of the car owners to apologise for the damage caused and left as soon as the police allowed him to.

“I knew he wouldn’t want to speak to anyone so I left him alone. It’s ironic he’s run into a Hawthorn supporter,” she said.

News_Image_File: Lauren Keely surveys the damage to her car today. Picture: John Grainger The 27-year-old was given a Hawthorn jersey, scarf and beanie by Sportsbet, who apologised light-heartedly on Franklin’s behalf, but she was not holding out for a personal apology.

“It would be nice, some tickets would be good, I really want to go to that match (Hawthorn v Sydney at ANZ Stadium on May 9). I don’t hold anything against him,” she said.

“I did not realise my car had been damaged until 20 minutes later when I noticed the police taking photos from the other side.

“I guess maybe he’s hit and tried to turn in and smashed into the other car. I don’t really understand how it happened. How do you smash into four parked cars?”

News_Image_File: Hawks Fan Lauren Keely gets a light-hearted apology via flowers and a Hawks jersey from Sportsbet PR rep Will Byrne.Ms Keely, who only has third-party insurance said she was unsure how she would get her car back on the road in time for term two on Monday.

Late this morning Franklin fronted media to answer questions about the accident.

The Swans’ $10 million recruit said: “I wasn’t texting. I wasn’t speeding. It was just an accident. I’m devastated but I’m just thankful that no one was in the car with me or in the cars next to me. I don’t want to see myself in the spotlight at the moment, I just want to focus on our next game.”News_Image_File: Buddy Franklin talks to the media during Swans training at the SCG. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Franklin, 27, was last night issued with a negligent driving ticket which carries a $405 fine and three demerit point penalty after being interviewed by police at the scene.

It is understood Franklin was driving west along New South Head Rd, Rose Bay, near Cranbrook Rd, when he lost control of his vehicle and slammed into four parked cars about 7.05pm.

The car he was driving, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, belongs to his girlfriend, television presenter and model Jesinta Campbell who is an ambassador for Jeep in Australia.

News_Image_File: A policeman at the scene of the incident / Picture: Tim Hunter

News_Image_File: The scene of the car crash last night.

News_Image_File: Phoebe Clelland’s car suffered damage to the rear. Picture: John Grainger

Phoebe Clelland’s Holden Astra was one of the four cars damaged and said Franklin looked upset when she inspected the damage.

“He seemed pretty upset. He left as soon as the police interviewed him. He was by himself but two girls came and picked him up in a car. He wasn’t drunk.

“I heard a bang and I came out and two of the cars were on the footpath and my car had been rear ended and the other car had been rear ended.”

“It all happened extremely quickly, there were reporters everywhere.”

Camilla Parson’s boyfriend Tom’s Holden Astra was written off from the crash as it was forced onto the grass next to the footpath.

“It was quite a scene. We don’t quite know what happened. There was no drinking involved. I think it’s just one of those things, a poor accident for the guy (Franklin) who just got caught up in it all,” she said.

Ms Campbell has been a Jeep ambassador for a year and the adverse publicity of the prang could affect her lucrative deal.

News_Image_File: Lauren Keely’s car was the first of four that Franklin ploughed into. Picture: John Grainger.

A Fiat Chrysler Group Australia spokeswoman said a crash involving one of their flagship vehicles was not a good look.

“I don’t think road accidents are great publicity. We like to promote safe and enjoyable driving and we are just relieved no one was seriously injured,” she said.

“We are waiting for the full details of the incident from the police and then we will have ongoing discussions with Jesinta and her management about our relationship.”

The spokeswoman said the assumption of the deal was Jesinta would be the primary driver of the Jeep.

“The assumption is when we do a deal with a celebrity that the vehicle is theirs to drive but the nature of life is we all have partners that do jump in the car,” she said.

“We do have a deal that Jesinta is an ambassador for Jeep and obviously Buddy was driving her car when the incident happened.”

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Photos of the crash quickly appeared on Twitter, with Rose Bay resident Craig McDonald tweeting: “Buddy Franklin has just totalled three parked cars on New South Head road outside my place.”

Mr McDonald told The Daily Telegraph he heard a loud bang and called the police. “Someone said they overheard him say there was a car close behind him, possibly tailing him,” he said.

Pictures show the 4WD smashed head-on into the vehicles, causing serious damage to the hood and employing the airbags. Police attended the scene and were seen taking a statement from Franklin about the crash.

News_Image_File: One of the cars being taken away last night.

A spokesman from Rose Bay police station said Franklin returned a negative blood alcohol test. Police said no one was injured in the crash and the driver was believed to be travelling alone at the time.

Early this morning Franklin attended Swans training at the SCG and spoke to a Channel 7 reporter outside.

News_Image_File: All smile ... Lance Franklin with Lewis Jetta during Swans training at the SCG. Picture: Phil HillyardWhen asked how he was feeling he replied: “Not too bad this morning, obviously a little bit upset with what happened last night. It was lucky that no one was injured and myself not injured. To come out unscathed I’m happy with that. It’s not the best look but, yeah.”

When asked what happened, Franklin said: “I just got a little bit too close to the car that was parked on lane one and that was pretty much it, and then from there that’s when the airbags went off and that’s all I can say.”

News_Rich_Media: AFL star 'Buddy' Franklin has been fined for negligent driving after crashing into parked cars in Sydney.

News_Image_File: Jesinta Campbell and Buddy Franklin. Picture: SDP Media

Police were yet to confirm if Franklin was subjected to a toxicology test after returning a negative blood-alcohol reading or if he was treated by paramedics for any medical condition.

The Telegraph reported in February paramedics were called to Franklin’s Bondi Beach apartment on January 3, after he collapsed due to an apparent seizure.

BUDDY SUFFERS SUSPECTED SEIZURE

The manager to his girlfriend Jesinta Campbell declined to comment at the time on whether she made the frantic call to Triple-0 at about 3pm on January 3 that resulted in Franklin being hospitalised.

News_Image_File: Jesinta Campbell and Buddy Franklin / Picture: Instagram

A second witness told the Herald Sun Franklin looked shocked as he spoke to investigators at the roadside smash.

She said the cars involved in the collision looked like write-offs.

“He was facing oncoming traffic and he looked like he was in shock but accommodating as he was taking police questions,” said the woman, who declined to be named.

News_Image_File: One of the cars involved in the crash.

After viewing the aftermath, she said the Jeep appeared to have veered left before smashing into the parked cars, coming to a rest with the bonnet facing the side of the road.

“All the front of his car was totally pushed in. At least three of the cars were total write-offs,” she said.

The Swans confirmed Franklin’s involvement in the crash last night in a brief statement to AFL Media.

“Franklin was the only person involved in the accident,” the statement said.

“He was not carrying any passengers and there were no passengers in any of the other vehicles involved.

“No one was injured in the accident and Franklin is also unharmed. Police attended the scene, where Franklin provided a statement.

“He was breath-tested, returning a zero reading. Franklin is licensed and insured.”

News_Image_File: Police at the scene last night.

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3AW radio hosts this morning raised the issue of Franklin having suffered a seizure while playing for Hawthorn saying:

Ross Stevenson: It’s probably a story worth following then isn’t it? I’ve just checked and Buddy Franklin did have a seizure while at Hawthorn and Sharrod Wellingham did have to call an ambulance. It was called “dizzy spells”, and then he had a seizure.

John Burns: Was that on the field?

Ross Stevenson: No, at home, because he lived with Sharrod Wellingham. And on January 3 at Sydney he had a seizure. I’m not saying he had a seizure last night but if there’s no drugs or alcohol, and he’s crashed his car in dry conditions into four parked cars on the other side of the road, you’ve got to ask what’s going on.

Originally published as Buddy crashed into Hawks fan’s car