SAXONBURG — The car of a suspected illegal immigrant was traveling 75 mph last month when it broadsided another car, violently ending a high-speed chase that crossed two counties, a Middlesex Township police officer testified Wednesday.

The June 17 crash left the other driver with likely permanent injuries, authorities said.

Moments before the wreck, the suspect, 41-year-old Jose R. Rios, in his failed getaway struck two other vehicles, injuring another motorist.

District Judge Sue Haggerty of Saxonburg at Rios’ preliminary hearing Wednesday ordered him held for court on a list of charges, including two felonies, stemming from the chase and the series of crashes.

Rios, whose driver’s license shows a San Bernardino, Calif. address, remains in the Butler County Prison on $50,000 bail.

The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service also has a detainer on Rios, who may be in the country illegally.

During the hearing, an interpreter sat next to Rios, who authorities said speaks limited English.

Police Sgt. Randy Ruediger, the lone witness to testify, recounted being called about 7 p.m. for a report of a suspicious person standing next to a car outside a home on Route 8.

Ruediger got there and found Rios, who led the officer to believe he knew the people at the house. He spoke in “broken English,” Ruediger said, and was difficult to understand.

After a brief conversation, Ruediger allowed Rios to drive away.

“I gave Mr. Rios the benefit of the doubt,” Ruediger testified. “I had no reason to retain him at that time.”

Rios proceeded north on Route 8 before heading west on Route 228 toward Adams Township.

While following Rios in his unmarked car, Ruediger said he called 911 and requested that a dispatcher contact the owner of the house where he had found Rios.

“I learned from 911 that the residents did not know (Rios),” he said. “That made me suspicious.”

Ruediger called Adams Township police to tell them he was going to stop Rios’ car. Adams police told him they would assist.

When police tried to stop Rios’ Toyota Yaris, he made a U-turn and headed back to Route 8 where he drove south at speeds topping 110 mph, Ruediger testified.

Adams police led the chase with Ruediger trailing.

The pursuit continued across Allegheny County into Richland Township, where Rios crashed into two vehicles at the intersection with Grandview Drive.

Pamela Noel, 56, of Richland was driving one of the vehicles with two passengers, her 25-year-old daughter and 5-year-old granddaughter.

Noel’s Toyota RAV4 was pushed off the road. She suffered a back injury for which she is still being treated. Her daughter and granddaughter were not hurt.

The other driver, Rhea Corso, 39, of Wexford, also was uninjured.

Ruediger said Rios did not stop after the wrecks. He continued south on Route 8 for another quarter mile before he slammed into the driver’s side door of an Audi Quattro.

That driver, 25-year-old Matthew Conte of Richland, was critically injured and was flown by medical helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital.

Following the hearing, Ruediger said he learned that Conte has undergone at least two surgeries for a badly injured left leg.

Rios’ car, after it T-boned the Audi, “vaulted into the air,” Ruediger testified, and went over a cement medial in front of the Northtowne Square shopping center.

Rios was arrested and questioned with the aid of an interpreter at the Middlesex police station. Ruediger said Rios admitted he was trying to get away from police.

“He claimed his wife and children had died,” the officer testified. “He also stated he wanted to died.”

Middlesex police later learned earlier that day, Rios’ wife had gotten an emergency protective order against him, claiming he abused her and their children, ages 3 and 13.

The family at that time was living in a rental home in Adams Township, according to Butler County Court records.

That house, records showed, was rented by a suburban Pittsburgh home building company. Rios apparently worked for the firm.

Ruediger testified a crash investigation determined Rios’ car was traveling 75 mph when it hit Conte’s car. Rios apparently did not apply his brakes before the crash.

On cross-examination by court-appointed attorney Leland Clark, who speaks Spanish, Ruediger conceded there was a possible “miscommunication” between Rios and police during his interview with investigators.

The officer noted Rios, after initially claiming his family was dead, later said he knew they were not.

Just to be sure, Ruediger said, police went to Rios’ home where they found his wife and kids.

Rios is awaiting trial on charges of aggravated assault and fleeing or attempting to elude police, both felonies. Additionally, he is charged with four counts of reckless endangerment, hit-and-run and reckless driving.

Ruediger said that INS authorities are investigating Rios’ immigration status.