A MAN has died after being hit by a truck on the Mitchell Freeway, causing peak hour traffic chaos.

It's believed the man was hit just before 3pm after stepping into the path of traffic while holding a fuel can.

The victim, believed to be in his 40s, was taken to Joondalup Health Campus but has since died from his injuries.

Northbound lanes of the freeway were closed between Hepburn and Whitfords Ave, with traffic diverted from the freeway onto Hepburn Ave.