BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- It's a survivor story that sparked change on parts of I-64 in our region--extending the cable barriers.

Sarah Sager's near-death, head-on car collision now means other people will most likely walk away from similar wrecks on the interstate. In the first of a two-part series, we take a look at how a teenager broken and bruised has made a powerful comeback to save others.

“We were coming around the corner and lost control and hydroplaned. We went through the median and collided with the semi--crashing right there at the 15-mile marker,” said Sarah.

It was July 9, 2003. Sarah Sager was just 15 years old and fighting for her life.

“When I got on the scene, I saw the semi first, then I saw the suburban and heard a little girl screaming. It was terrible. We ended up using two sets of jaws and a third machine and took the top off and peeled it open. We then did a dashboard roll where we take the dash off,” said Paul Hockenberry of the Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department.

Sarah was a passenger in the SUV. Her boyfriend was driving her to gymnastics. Her dad was just returning from business, and her mom was returning from a mission trip to Maryland when she got the call. She recalls the first time she saw Sarah in the hospital.

“She was swollen, not breathing on her own. She wasn't stitched up yet," said Beth Sager, Sarah's mom. "She was perfect and then she was all broken."

Sarah's injuries were extensive, requiring plates and rods and years of physical therapy. The wounds have long since closed, but the numerous scars remain.

“When we came home, I thought we had the exorcist in our house. As her femur was healing, the muscles were tightening around that bone and she was in severe pain. We're blessed to be in a community where people care,” Beth said.

“I’m so thankful for the Barboursville Police Department and the Fire Department. If it wasn’t for them and the resources they have, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you today,” said Sarah.

Sarah is now a senior at Elon University in North Carolina majoring in broadcast journalism. She's spending her summer as an intern at WSAZ. While she doesn't dwell on the past, she won't forget it either.

“My scars are reminders. I look down at that scar and think I can make it through anything. They're reminders everyday to stay up,” Sarah said.

I-64 did have cable barriers back then, but they stopped at the 29th Street exit, about a mile short of Sarah's accident. It wasn't long after that time that the barriers were extended from the 29th Street exit in Huntington to Milton.

On Friday, we talk with first responders more about the powerful role Sarah's experience played in making sure others didn't meet the same fate.

The driver of the vehicle where Sarah was a passenger, as well as the driver of the semi truck, sustained only minor injuries.