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Teens who found major Colonial Pipeline leak in nature preserve speak to Channel 9

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Two teens riding ATVs in Huntersville last summer are credited with finding a massive Colonial Pipeline fuel spill, which was last estimated at 1.2 million gallons.

[PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Colonial Pipeline VP takes Channel 9 to Huntersville spill and recovery site]

Walker Sell and Owen Fehr were riding through the Oehler Nature Preserve when they smelled an overwhelming odor of gasoline.

“It was just bubbling out of the ground like a fire hydrant would,” Fehr told Channel 9.

>> In the video at the top of this page, reporter Anthony Kustura spoke with the teens about what happened when they discovered one of the largest fuel spills in U.S. history.

(WATCH: DEQ says gasoline spill in Huntersville bigger than Colonial Pipeline estimated)