Christiopher Payton, 21, of Hayden died when his vehicle was involved in a three-way crash on Alabama 157, about four miles northwest of Cullman. The crash occurred Friday morning.

A Hayden man has been identified as the driver killed today in a three-vehicle wreck on Alabama Highway 157 northwest of Cullman.

Christopher Brandon Payton, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene near Gold Star Self Storage, said Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick.

“Bystanders attempted CPR on him while EMS was en route,” Kilpatrick said. “His family has been notified.”

The crash scene is a little more than two miles northwest of Highway 157’s interchange with Interstate 65, and about four miles northwest of downtown Cullman.

A mother, six-month-old child and a third passenger traveling in an SUV were injured, with the mother airlifted to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. The child and other passenger were transported by ambulance to Cullman Regional Medical Center along with the driver of a tractor trailer which was also involved.

Kilpatrick said it appeared Payton, who was wearing a seat belt, was headed southbound on Alabama 157 when he lost control of his vehicle and ran across the median into oncoming traffic. Payton’s vehicle hit the SUV headed northbound, causing the tractor trailer to overturn.

Cullman police are investigating the fatal wreck, and the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama State Troopers were also on the scene to assist. Cullman Fire Rescue and Cullman EMS also responded.

Reported by The Cullman Times, a sister newspaper of The North Jefferson News.