Don Franklin Elizabethtown Lincoln fundraiser targets payoff of fallen KSP trooper’s truck

A Don Franklin Elizabethtown Lincoln dealership fundraiser is seeking community help to pay off a truck associated with Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, according to a report from WAVE. The dealership announced a fundraising goal for Phillips’ family, describing the effort as an act of remembrance tied to Phillips’ Kentucky State Police unit number.

The WAVE report said the dealership’s fundraiser is intended to reduce or eliminate the remaining financial obligation tied to the trooper’s truck, with money going directly toward the Phillips family. Organizers framed the campaign as a way for residents to offer practical support while also honoring Phillips’ service.

The campaign comes as Kentucky State Police marked Phillips’ death with public recognition for fallen troopers, WAVE reported. The WAVE story referenced a ceremonial moment at Kentucky State Police Cadet Class 107 graduation, where an empty chair was left in honor of Phillips, underscoring the role his family and unit would continue to have in department remembrance.

According to WAVE, the Don Franklin Elizabethtown Lincoln effort included a specific fundraising target. The reported goal was $36,900, with organizers stating the objective was to raise that amount for the trooper’s family in connection with the unit’s vehicle.

The dealership’s fundraiser was presented as a community-driven effort, with organizers asking the public to contribute so the family could move forward without the burden of the remaining truck payoff. WAVE did not describe the exact fundraising timeline or the payment process in detail beyond the stated purpose of the proceeds.

As of the WAVE report date, November 11, the fundraiser was active in Elizabethtown, and the dealership was continuing its push toward the stated target amount. Any further updates on whether the campaign reaches its goal, and when proceeds are distributed, would depend on how organizers administer donations and coordinate the payoff on the trooper’s vehicle, WAVE reported.