The grief-stricken family of a young mum killed in what police believe was a “targeted” hit and run have spoken out, after a woman appeared in court charged with her murder.

Police allege Kiesha Thompson, 23, was deliberately struck by a four-wheel drive while walking home on a footpath after dropping her daughter at daycare south of Brisbane on Friday.

Thompson died in hospital that night and police later charged Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24, with her murder.

“We will allege that that event was not in fact an accident, and the young lady who has tragically lost her life, was in fact targeted,” Detective Inspector Chris Knight said on Sunday.

Police allege the 4WD vehicle – a silver Toyota Prado – was in the area for an extended period of time before the Daisy Hill crash.

“For that reason we don’t believe that it was an unfortunate, random traffic accident,” Knight said.

Kiesha Thompson was run down after dropping her daughter at daycare on Friday. Photo: Queensland Police

On Monday, Queensland Police released a video of some of Thompson’s family appealing for information about her “horrific and senseless” death.

“We are deeply grateful for those who worked tirelessly to save her,” her aunt Amanda Mathias said.

“We are struggling to understand why anyone would commit such a cruel act.”

Wiping away tears, Thompson’s brother Koby Torto said his sister had had a difficult life but had “worked tirelessly” to improve it for the sake of her daughter.

“Her life, up to the end, was exactly what she wanted but, as all good things come, so do bad. She was taken from us in a cowardly act,” Torto said.

“I cannot stress enough that her daughter was the light of her life, and we’re here to support her throughout her whole life.”

Sant was remanded in custody after her matter was mentioned in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Monday.

She was not able to apply for bail due to the serious nature of the charge.

Police said they seized a damaged silver Toyota Prado at Goodna, west of Brisbane, on Saturday. The 24-year-old was arrested a few suburbs away at Yamanto.

Police described the incident as far from typical but declined to comment on any relationship between the pair.

Asked if it was a case of domestic violence, said: “It is not as simple as that”.

Police are appealing for dashcam footage and asked the driver, owner or passengers on a white, unbranded bus seen in the vicinity shortly before 9am on Friday to come forward.

Sant’s matter has been adjourned to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on July 31.

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

Lifeline 131 114

-with AAP