Students: Message from DUI Crash Victim Came in Loud and Clear

BRISTOL, Va. – Sarah Panzau’s appearance Monday captured the attention of students at Virginia High School, but it was her emotional story that held many spellbound.

Wearing a tight black tank top that clearly revealed her missing left arm and a multitude of scars from more than 30 surgeries, the 27-year-old talked about personal responsibility, consequences and making choices.

The Illinois native is a former junior college All-American volleyball player who has spent the past four years sharing her experience with students nationwide.

“I had no heartbeat, no pulse and no blood pressure,” Panzau said of a 2003 car crash that happened because she was driving drunk. “I wasn’t wearing my seat belt and was thrown through the back window of my car. The glass ripped my arm off.”

For nearly 90 minutes, Panzau gave the hellish details of a crash she doesn’t remember and how it affected her life.

She laughed, joked and cried, but mostly gave about 600 teenagers plenty to think about.

Panzau began to cry when she talked about how state police asked her mother to identify her body because they believed she hadn’t survived the crash.

“They thought I was a fatality. They didn’t think I would make it,” she said. “I was just like you. I thought I was immortal. I thought that I would never die. But in that split second, my life was changed forever.”

Accompanied by a slide show of often grisly images from the accident scene and her months-long hospital stay, Panzau bared her soul about a series of bad decisions that included dropping out of college, abusing drugs and alcohol and often driving drunk.

“You fear consequences – your cell phone might be taken away, you might be grounded – if you’re out drinking and your parents find out. I feared the same thing. But your first option should be to call your parents, because whatever you do to disappoint them can’t compare to what I put my mom through. I will go to my grave regretting what I did to her,” Panzau said.

She also talked about how her family has continued to support her, while some she once considered friends haven’t contacted her since the crash.

“I don’t ever get to look normal again,” Panzau said. “This body is the only one I’m going to get for the rest of my life. And your body is the only one you’re going to get for your entire life. So I have a suggestion: Treat it with respect.”

When she finished speaking, the hundreds of students gave her a lengthy standing ovation. Many walked up to give her hugs, get autographs or have photos taken with her.
It is a scene that has played out hundreds of times in the years since she began visiting schools nationwide.

“I still get nervous and feel like I want to throw up before these,” Panzau said of her appearances. “But if I can reach one kid, then I’ve done my job, and it’s worth it.”

Mission accomplished.

“It will keep me from drinking and driving,” VHS senior Aubrey Hutt said. “This was a lot more effective than telling me a lot of statistics. And I relate to her because I’m an athlete.”

Hutt said she couldn’t imagine trading circumstances with Panzau.

Junior Tessa Arnold said she also appreciated the program.

“I think it’s a great message, and we’ve learned a valuable lesson from her life’s journey,” Arnold said. “I think she’s impressed a lot of us.”

VHS senior Aaron Dillow said Panzau “got into a few guys’ heads” with her message.

Beer distributor Walling Distributing sponsored Panzau’s appearance.

“I think it serves a real need,” said Jeff Walling, the company’s vice president. “With the prom and graduation coming up, this is a message about the bad choices people make.”

dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532