While police searched for clues to the cause of Monday’s catastrophic crash that killed 9-year-old Grace Legere of Auburn, a church community mourned and prayed.

By 10:30 p.m. Monday, less than three hours after the 7:50 p.m. crash, word spread through much of the 1,000-plus congregation of the East Auburn Baptist Church, said Josh Cousineau, the church’s youth director.

All three victims of the crash – Grace Legere, her 7-year-old sister, Deanna, and Philip Trundy, 64, of North Hill Road in Buckfield – attended the church.

Trundy was driving a pony cart with the girls inside when it collided with a commercial truck driven by Loren Shackford, 55, of in Buckfield.

Grace was pronounced dead at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston Monday night.

Trundy and Deanna Legere were taken there for treatment. Deanna, who suffered a head injury, was flown to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

On Tuesday afternoon, the condition of both had improved.

“It looks like Deanna will not need surgery,” said Cousineau. “Phil Trundy has had surgery for broken bones and is doing well, also.”

The church community has been dealt a blow, he said.

“It’s going to be a tough road ahead for the ministry,” said Cousineau, whose father, Roger, is the church’s senior pastor.

Little Grace will be deeply missed.

She and her sisters, Deanna, and Sarah, 8, were born in Romania and adopted by the Legeres several years ago after the couple met the girls on a church mission trip.

“Bill and Teresa fell in love with them,” Cousineau said. The girls settled in with their adoptive parents and quickly became fluent in English.

One of the first words Grace learned in English was “horse,” Cousineau said.

“She died doing what she loved,” he said.

Some churchgoers remained awake late Monday, praying until the early-morning hours for Shackford, Trundy, Deanna and Grace.

“We know that through her faith in her Lord Jesus Christ, she is dancing with Him in Heaven,” a close family friend said.

On Tuesday, a vigil began at the Portland hospital. Relatives of the Legeres were scheduled to arrive from out of state to help where they could. Workers from the church office also went to the hospital to lend a hand.

Bill Legere, a physician assistant at Central Maine Medical Center, serves as an elder at the church. Teresa Legere works part time as the church’s care coordinator. Trundy has served as a church trustee.

The pony cart driver was also well-known in his corner of Buckfield.

Town Manager Glen Holmes said Trundy frequently went out with the cart during the warmer months. He said Trundy had also appeared in the town’s Labor Day parade and other functions around the state.

“Phil’s a great guy. He goes out of his way to help anybody and everybody,” Holmes said. “This is one of those real tragedies.”

Holmes, who is distantly related to Trundy, said he often saw Trundy riding alone, although he would also offer rides to family and friends who visited him.

According to a sign at Trundy’s Roundabout Farm, he offers miniature horse-drawn wagon rides for $20 per hour. The sign also states that 25 percent of the proceeds from the rides benefits the East Auburn Baptist Church.

Les Douglass, who works at R.E. Lowell Lumber on North Hill Road, described Trundy as a “hard-working farmer.”

“It’s just too bad,” said Douglass. “They’re all nice people.”