Michael Linehan, of Ellalong, said the "Bearfoot" truck hit his car as he tried to turn into Stockland Jesmond carpark and accelerated until the car was seconds away from being crushed.

The truck, which was at the shopping centre for a promotion, then allegedly reversed in the direction of nearby crowds and when it tried to get to a waiting semi-trailer across the road almost hit another car.

Monster Trucks Australia said it and its driver were largely at fault but said it was the first accident in its 26 years.

Mr Linehan said there were traffic controllers for cars going south along Blue Gum Road but nothing for traffic headed north.

"My son was sitting in the back seat and his door got pushed in and windows started to pop," Mr Linehan said.

"I've never been so terrified in my life."

Off duty Newcastle firefighter David Coughtrie signalled to the driver to cut the engine and saw the truck reverse towards crowds and narrowly miss another car.

"The driver must have thought he was in the middle of the arena," he said.

"I've never seen fear on faces like I saw on those people."

Monster truck organiser Clive Featherby said safety vehicles stopped traffic in both directions for a number of minutes but the car went up the inside and crossed double lines, a claim Mr Linehan denied.

He said they would pay for the damage to the Linehans' car and that there was someone directing the truck from behind who would have pulled a dead man's switch if it came near crowds.