Retired Geelong great Jimmy Bartelย might have to take the bus when he returns from his holiday after a runaway truck "totalled"ย his car.

Fortunately for the 2007 Brownlow Medalist, he was over 16,000km away on a holiday in the Swiss Alps.

Bartel told 3AW his car was "crushed" while parked outside his house in a bayside Melbourne suburb.

โ€œMy phone was pinging pretty hot this morning and a lot of friends were messaging saying, โ€˜Are you OKโ€™, โ€˜Have you seen your car?,โ€ Bartel said on Thursday morning.

โ€œ(It) completely totalled my car but thankfully no one was hurt. It was pretty dangerous, the whole right-hand side of my car is completely crushed.โ€

Bartel said his street was a hot spot for drivers looking to "take five seconds off their commute," and that he was lucky he had helpful neighbours.

โ€œThe disappointing thing is they drove off and didnโ€™t give any details," he said.

โ€œI have some very good neighbours in my street who took lots photos and took care of it, I think one of them might have reported the driver.โ€