BUCKFIELD – Police say glare from the setting sun likely blinded a driver Monday, causing a collision on Route 117 that killed 9-year-old Grace Legere of Auburn and severely injured two others, including her 7-year-old sister, Deanna.

“It looks like the sun is to blame,” Sgt. Tim Ontengco of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. The crash was reported at 7:50 p.m.

Teams of deputies were interviewing neighbors and examining the crash site, where a westbound commercial truck driven by Loren Shackford, 55, of Buckfield, struck a two-pony cart driven by Philip Trundy, 64, of North Hill Road in Buckfield. Both ponies were injured; one died at the scene.

“At this point we don’t see any obvious violations,” Ontengco said.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant said Tuesday night that speed did not appear to be a factor in the accident. Shackford was not under the influence of alcohol at the time, Gallant said.

Shackford was involved in another sun-blinding accident on Route 117 in 2006, in which he rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a temporary red light.

According to the accident report filed by state police at the time, John Simmons of Paris was stopped at a temporary red light at a bridge construction at the Martin Stream bridge in nearby Turner. Shackford, who was driving a commercial vehicle owned by Northeast Test Consultants, hit Simmons from behind because he could not see the red light or the stopped vehicle “due to the position of the sun,” according to police.

That accident happened at 3:25 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2006, which would have been early twilight on Route 117 on that date.

There were no injuries as a result of the 2006 wreck, which happened about a mile from Monday evening’s crash.

Monday’s collision occurred as Trundy was heading west on Route 117 toward the intersection of Route 124, where he intended to turn left on Roundabout Road toward his farm on North Hill Road. His pony wagon, carrying himself and the Legere children, was struck from behind.

According to Jim Hart, owner of Hart’s Pizza in Buckfield village, the rising and setting sun can present a hazard to drivers along Route 117.

Although the speed limit on the road is 45 mph, Hart said he has had to slow down to 15 to 20 mph during periods of strong light. Hart also said it is difficult to pull off to the side of the road due to a high surface, steep ditches along the side of the road and no breakdown lane.

Police returned to the scene Tuesday afternoon to continue their investigation.