A van reportedly stolen in East Baltimore crashed into a car at a midtown intersection last night, sending a couple in the car to a hospital and the 54-year-old driver of the van to jail, police said.

Police said a Dodge Ram van was northbound in the 700 block of N. Calvert St. about 9: 05 p.m., and was being followed by officers from the Eastern and Central districts when it struck a Ford Aspire that was westbound in the 200 block of E. Madison St.

The impact caused the van to overturn and the car to travel several feet on Calvert Street before it crashed into a tree, a street sign and a parking meter, police said.

The couple were trapped inside the car for several minutes before they were freed by firefighters, police said, and were taken to Maryland Shock Trauma Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.

The 54-year-old driver of the van was arrested, police said.

Pub Date: 8/06/98