Kent man battles brain injury odds

KENT, Conn.—A local man who was severely injured in a single-motorcycle accident last summer is making progress towards recovery. But the path ahead is long and costly, so family and friends have started fundraising efforts.

Luke Arno, then 22, was on his way home for dinner after swimming at Mohawk Pond in Cornwall, Conn., on the evening of July 24, 2025, when he crashed his motorcycle in Amenia, N.Y. A passing motorist on South Amenia Road called 911.

Arno was airlifted to Hartford Hospital. He has spent much of the last eight months in a coma, first at Hartford Hospital and then at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Conn.

Many Kent locals may know Arno for his red 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck, or his friendly face when he worked at NAPA (Kent Auto Parts) from 2021 to 2023. He began working at Tobin’s Automotive in 2023 and was employed there as a mechanic at the time of the accident.

“He’d always ask questions,” Tobin’s Automotive service advisor Xavier Potter said of Arno. “He’d say, ‘I’m not sure what I’m doing, but I’m going to learn and figure it out.’”

It’s a character trait he demonstrated early. From childhood Arno was eager to learn, asking questions about how things worked, according to those who have known him most of his 23 years. 

Lifelong friend Riley Mollica, who has known Arno since they were in first grade together at Kent Center School, describes him as a brother. Arno graduated from KCS in 2016 and from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in 2021. 

“He means the world to me. He’s my best friend—basically my brother. My dad is [like] his dad. It felt like I was his whole family in Kent,” Mollica said of the 17-plus-year bond the two share.

Mollica’s father, Jerry, who also works as a mechanic at Tobin’s Automotive, worked with Arno’s dad, John, when it was D&S Auto. 

At that time, the Arnos lived in the house now owned by Dave Schneiderbeck at 12-14 South Main Street, which houses NAPA, two apartments, Tobin’s Automotive and Auto Dream.

“We found some of [Luke’s] LEGOs when we remodeled,” noted Schneiderbeck, adding, “All he ever wanted to do was be a mechanic in that building.” 

Jerry described having his son, Riley, and Luke around the shop after school when the boys were in elementary school. “Luke would be pointing at what someone was doing and ask, ‘What are you doing there? How did you know you needed to do that?’” the elder Mollica said with a smile.

He also described having the Arnos over for holidays. “Luke knew if he ever needed anything, he could ask me, or ask Robin.” 

Road to Recovery

It is unclear what Arno’s prognosis for recovery is from his traumatic brain injury. Initially, doctors were unsure if he would even survive his injuries, but Arno is now in a “minimally conscious state” (MCS), according to his half-sister Brandi Alpizar. 

A minimally conscious state is characterized by fluctuating awareness, with consistent sleep-wake cycles, and intentional behaviors.

“We–his therapist team and I–believe he is at least MCS-plus,” Alpizar wrote in a recent email. 

She noted that the first time he was assessed using the Coma Recovery Scale Revised (CRS-R) he was rated as MCS-minus. The CRS-R assesses cognition in six areas: listening, language use and comprehension, vision, communication, movement and wakefulness. There are no specific guidelines about how many times the CRS-R should be administered, but best practice suggests that up to five assessments may be needed to capture a brain injury patient’s optimal level of function. 

“As Luke becomes more active, he is starting to stand with assistance and sit on the side of his bed with support,” Alpizar continued. “He has been working on drinking water and eating ice chips with his [speech language pathologist] as well. … His sense of humor has not changed; he smiles at jokes or when he’s being a smartass, which is very on-brand for Luke.”

Arno receives cognitive, occupational, physical and speech therapies, along with care from other specialists. He is beginning to vocalize and demonstrate how to use common objects such as a toothbrush, cup, spoon, hairbrush and ball, according to Alpizar.

The next step in Arno’s recovery would be admission to the Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) program at the Hospital for Special Care. This intense brain injury rehabilitation program is designed for patients with at least emerging consciousness who demonstrate intentional movements and behaviors.

The program’s goal is to help patients emerge from MCS so can they can consistently communicate and use objects. It is unclear if Arno qualifies for the program yet.

Long and Unpredictable

While Arno continues his fight, his family and friends face financial battles. Brain injury recovery is long and unpredictable, and the costs are formidable. Arno will probably need assistance for the rest of his life.

“We aren’t sure how much—or even if—insurance will cover the DoC program,” Alpizar said. “This is why I created a GoFundMe page.”

The online fundraiser currently has a goal of $20,000. Additionally, Luke’s girlfriend, Lily Beasley, Riley Mollica and his girlfriend Kenzie Ongley, have collected more than $2,000 in cash contributions made by locals at the Mobil gas station, NAPA and other Kent businesses. 

Ongley said, “He’s always looked out for me. It’s our turn to be there for him.” 

Ongley also has a limited number of commemorative bracelets for sale for $5 each, with all monies going toward Arno’s rehabilitation costs. People interested in purchasing an orange rubber “Luke Strong” bracelet can contact Ongley via email.

“I never doubted that he was going to get better. You know, he’s a little stubborn. I know he’s always going to continue to do better,” Jerry Mollica said. “A lot of people are looking for a quicker recovery, but that’s not possible.”