Motorbike rider seriously injured in crash with truck as traffic madness ensues on Mitchell Freeway

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured after colliding with a rubbish truck on Mitchell Freeway.

The man, aged in his 40s, was transferred by St John Ambulance under priority one conditions and arrived at Royal Perth Hospital at 6.43am.

The freeway was closed for about two hours, with Main Roads WA warning traffic was still heavy in the area following its reopening.

Photos of the aftermath show police markings on the road around the rubbish truck and motorbike, and debris scattered across the bitumen.

A driver caught in the traffic said the early-morning crash, which occurred at about 5.50am, was confronting.

“Any accident is confronting but as a rider myself, this was particularly so,” Janette Patterson said.

“You could see that someone was being worked on on the road, which told me they had to stabilise the rider before they could move them.

“This is always upsetting because you know it is serious.”

Ms Patterson was held up for about half an hour — but was more concerned about the motorcyclist and his loved ones.

“I was stuck for at least 35 minutes while they worked on the injured party,” she said.

“It seemed they could not move him.

“The traffic was horrendous but for all of us stuck there, it was a very minor inconvenience.”

Traffic remains backed up for several kilometres.

Main Roads has urged motorists to use alternative routes by exiting the freeway at Ocean Reef Road or accessing it from the Warwick Road on ramp.