One-Armed Volleyball Player is "Living Proof" of Drunk-Driving Consequences
When Sarah Panzau’s body was found on Highway 64 on August 23, 2003, she was given a zero percent chance of survival—she had no pulse, no heartbeat, and no blood pressure. Today, she travels around the country, spreading the message about the devastating effects of drunk driving.
Panzau was a two-time all-American volleyball player who was offered more than 20 scholarships around the country, but she chose a school close to her hometown. She dropped out of school shortly after and became a bartender. The night of the crash, she was driving drunk—her blood-alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit.
Thrown out of the back windshield and scraped across the highway asphalt, Panzau had broken several parts of her jaw, torn off pieces of her right ear, broken seven vertebrate in her back, crushed and separated the entire right side of her rib cage from her spinal column, and completely severed her left arm
Miraculously, she lived through the accident, and now spends her days informing audiences of the effects of poor choices, the importance of family, and loving oneself and others. “We think we’re invincible, like we’re never going to die,” Panzau said. “I thought something like this could never happen to a girl like me.”
She recently explained to an Arizona audience during the “Living Proof” event—an all-ages, free event held on September 9—that even with no left arm and multiple scars, she feels gorgeous. “These are the only bodies you’ll get for the rest of your life,” Panzau said. “Honey, you don’t have to tell me twice, I know I look good.”
Jordan Jones, a sophomore psychology major, said Panzau’s story was amazing and a huge inspiration. “It was very moving,” Jones said. “It takes a lot of bravery to admit you are the one who was in the wrong and get up in front of crowds to talk about it.”
Holding up a volleyball jersey, Panzau later explained her role on the Paralympics volleyball team in 2006. During the game against Brazil, she was recorded for the United States for having the most digs and kills out of any volleyball player. She was the only one-armed person during the season to play.
“I keep this jersey to remind myself and everyone else that no matter how big or small your hopes and dreams are, you can have them,” Panzau said. “I am living proof.”
After 36 surgeries and daily chronic pain, Panzau has now retired from sports, but continues to be a positive motivation to athletic teams. One volleyball team skipped practice and traveled 80 miles to Flagstaff just for the event, and dance teams from areas around Arizona, as well as multiple teams from Northern Arizona University, stayed long after the event to meet her.
