Dentist accused in I-88 fatal has Huntington's, attorney says

A Naperville dentist accused of reckless homicide in a crash on I-88 that killed two people has Huntington's disease, which may have contributed to the accident, his attorney said Tuesday.

William A. Howe, 43, is charged with causing the deaths of Sher Ali Shalwani, 75, and Farzana Ali, 38, both of Elmhurst, in the Aug. 6 crash near Lisle. DuPage County prosecutors say Howe was traveling east on I-88 when his Porsche crossed the highway and went onto the south shoulder of westbound lanes about 6:30 p.m., striking the other vehicle head on.

Howe's attorney, John Curnyn, said his client remains hospitalized at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood, recuperating from a broken leg and a fractured hip. At one point, he was on a feeding tube.

But Howe's Huntington Disease “may have contributed to the cause of this event,” Curnyn said. “Huntington's disease is a rapidly progressing disease. It just sort of eats away at your neurological system.”

Howe was diagnosed about two years ago, and it contributed to the closing of his dental practice in Aurora, Curnyn said. “I have a concern about my client's fitness to stand trial, and that's based on medical and psychological issues,” he said. “And I have a concern about his mental state at the time of the accident.”

Curnyn declined to comment on reports that money was seen flying from his client's vehicle before the crash or speculation that it was a suicide attempt, saying he is awaiting police reports and other information.

The attorney said he was hired by Howe's sister.

“His family is very remorseful,” Curnyn said. “If they had an opportunity, they would express their sympathies to the family (of the victims).”

He said Howe has no children. Curnyn spoke after Howe's case was called in Judge Daniel Guerin's courtroom.

State's Attorney Robert Berlin said prosecutors are “still going forward with our case,” and that he could not yet gauge the impact of the Huntington's diagnosis.

State records showed Howe had been a licensed dentist in Aurora since 1993, and his current license is valid through September 2012.

The crash happened as Howe faced mounting legal and financial problems. According to court records, he filed for bankruptcy several years ago and hasn't made payments on his $295,331 mortgage since March.

He also faced charges stemming from a February DUI arrest. And he He also was arrested in Naperville in 2008 for driving under the influence of drugs, and again in November 2010 for transportation of open alcohol, records show. In addition, he has faced allegations of domestic violence.