James Thomas Cowan charged after woman left fighting for life following single-vehicle crash on Brisbane’s southside

A Collingwood Park man has been granted bail after a crash on Brisbane’s southside in an allegedly stolen ute that left his female passenger fighting for life.

A woman has suffered life-threatening injuries following a single-vehicle crash in Brisbane on Monday morning.

A man who was allegedly under the influence of opioid drugs when he crashed into a metal fence in Brisbane’s southside leaving a woman fighting for life has been granted bail.

Collingwood Park resident James Thomas Cowan, 27, was charged after the serious single-vehicle crash at Pallara about 3.20am on Monday.

Police allege that a stolen grey Toyota HiLux dual-cab utility was travelling north along Paradise Road Monday when it left the road, rolled, and crashed into a metal fence.

Two people were located at the scene including a 24-year-old woman who had been ejected from the vehicle.

She was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The driver, a 27-year-old Collingwood Park man was also taken to the PA in a stable condition.

Cowan made an application for bail on Tuesday in the Brisbane Arrest Court.

The court heard police would allege Cowan was under the influence of a number of opioid drugs at the time of the crash.

Police will allege the person injured was his passenger Courtney Patrice Eversham, who the court heard had been thrown from the car.

The court heard Cowan had only recently finished a period of parole at the time of the crash.

He had been sentenced to seven months jail in October 2023 for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Duty lawyer Rachael Gough said drugs had “always been a problem” for her client.

Cowan, who worked as a cleaner for his uncle, would seek rehabilitation support if granted bail, Ms Gough said.

Cowan was granted bail under conditions he live at his parents house in Collingwood Park, adhere to a curfew between 8pm to 6am, report to Goodna Police Station once a week, provide samples for drug testing upon police request, not drive a motor vehicle, and not contact Ms Eversham.

Ms Eversham currently remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Mr Cowan was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance while excessively speeding.

Investigations by the Forensic Crash Unit are continuing.