Trauma experts urge state-led mental health response after car crash into Newcastle Knights fans

Trauma experts have called for a state-led mental health response, including counselling, for witnesses to a car crash into Newcastle Knights fans.

Ten people were injured when a car crashed into a crowd of supporters about 9:30am on Saturday at a roundabout on Newcastle Link Road, in Newcastle's west.

They were there to farewell the grand-final bound Newcastle Knights NRL team.

The mood in Newcastle turned from jubilation to devastation.

Port Stephens councillor Giacomo Arnott was in the crowd, and saw the horror unfold.

"I took a video on my phone as I arrived … 4 minutes before the accident happened.

"It's just really sobering watching that video back and seeing how excited everybody was and then knowing that 10 to 15 minutes later, the hush that fell on the crowd."

Investigating police said they would rely on the crowd's footage as they pieced together what happened.

Vicarious trauma

Witnesses have told the ABC they heard revving, before the vehicle careered sideways into the crowd.

Chair of the NSW chapter of the Australasian College of Road Safety Michael Timms said given the size of the crowd gathered, the impacts of vicarious trauma on the fans would be widespread.

"There is a need for organised counselling services and avenues where people can just talk about the way they're feeling and just get yourselves back on track."

Fans have described running to help the injured, with people having to lift the vehicle to free some of the injured.

Assistant Police Commissioner Dave Waddell said fans performed CPR on two people who were critically injured.

One of the injured left in a critical but stable condition is a five-year-old child, among the many children in the crowd.

Trauma response

Existing helplines for support include the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, with headspace Newcastle and the Newcastle Safe Haven available for those in the area.

Louise Newman, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Melbourne and a former academic at the University of Newcastle, said given the number of people affected by the incident, authorities needed to take a "multifaceted approach" to provide support.

"In the first instance, it really is a matter of identifying people who might be at most risk of any ongoing symptoms and providing an appropriate level of support, as has been called for by the majority of people."

Professor Newman said child witnesses were vulnerable.

"Children often need quite a lot of reassurance and they need to talk things through with teacher and counsellor support in their school environment, ideally," she said.

Community hurting

Sonia Hornery, the state member for Wallsend, where the crash happened, said the community was hurting.

She said people needed to be directed to support services they might not know they needed.

"I would certainly support any kind of trauma response from the government and I do believe it is important that we get on the front foot," Ms Hornery said.

She added that the community "needs to know it is normal to feel angry and despair at what happened".

Police Minister Yasmin Catley said the crash was "shocking and has left a lasting impact on our community".

She said the rippling trauma was understandable.

"It's important to understand that these events can leave lasting trauma and people feeling anxious, distressed and angry.

"I encourage anyone impacted to seek support."

Professor Newman said in addition to directing people to existing helplines, a specialised hotline should be considered.

The alleged driver Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, 18, is facing nine charges.

He was refused bail on Sunday and is due back in court on October 15.