Phiri was released on R2000 bail at the Lehurutshe Magistrate's Court. He was arrested soon after the accident that claimed the lives of these boys after it appeared that he lost control of the truck which he used to transport at least 30 learners from the Ratsela Middle School and Letlhakane Primary School in Rietpan. Phiri is said to have hit a tree and this resulted in the death of six learners that were pronounced dead on the scene. 

Two more learners later died in hospital. It was later established by the police that Phiri was driving without a driver's license and the Department of Education distanced itself from the incident after it was also established that Phiri and pupils had attended a soccer tournament at Lehurutshe, in which under-15 and under-17 teams were taking part.

A mass funeral service was held in Rietpan near Zeerust for seven of the learners while the eighth one was buried a day after. The MEC for Transport in the province, Sello Lehari, conveyed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to those injured, including the truck driver.

The Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi, said seven of the boys were in grades 5 to 9 at Ratsela Middle and Letlhakane Primary schools in Rietpan. One teenager attended Mmajane Secondary School in Driefontein. The Education MEC, Mmaphefo Matsemela, said in a statement following the incident that she was shocked and devastated by the accident. “This accident happened at a very crucial time wherein learners were preparing to write their final examinations,” she said.

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