Two crashes cause traffic chaos on Adelaide’s South-Eastern Freeway

Traffic is returning to normal after two crashes in fewer than 10 minutes on the South-Eastern Freeway caused commuter chaos amid treacherous weather.

Two collisions fewer than 10 minutes apart on the same main thoroughfare caused traffic pain with major delays for commuters on Thursday morning.

Emergency services were called to two incidents, affecting city-bound peak-hour traffic on the South-Eastern Freeway just after 7.30am.

Traffic on the South Eastern Freeway, looking back towards Mount Barker.

Traffic is banked up headed towards Bridgewater. Picture: Supplied

The first was a three-car smash near Old Carey Gully Rd and the second came just seven minutes later as a vehicle rear-ended another near Stirling.

No one was injured in either of the incidents but the crashes caused huge disruptions to traffic with reduced speed limits in place in the area.

One commuter said the crashes had also caused lengthy delays in Hills towns such as Bridgewater, as people tried to get off the freeway, with traffic banked across several roads.

Drivers clogged small backroads trying to avoid the freeway traffic buildup, adding to the chaos on normally quiet roads.

Freeway exit and entry ramps were also blocked by motorists trying to dodge the crashes and delays.

The heavy rain also led to minor flooding across many Hills roads, adding to the turmoil.

However, both crashes have now been cleared up and traffic is returning to normal.