"I would not want to believe that this happened because of the march," said Ochoa, who offered six buses to provide free transportation to the April 10 rally in Atlanta that was part of a nationwide protest against federal immigration legislation.
"But looking at the buses like this, makes me feel sad," said Ochoa,
a naturalized citizen from Colombia. "At the same time, it gives me courage to continue what we are trying to do" in supporting the Hispanic community's efforts to fight proposed tougher federal laws against illegal immigration.
Two of Ochoa's drivers live in a house across the street from the parking lot,
which is surrounded by chain-link fence.
Miguel Tercero, one of the drivers, said the son of his housemate heard a noise about 12:45 a.m., possibly from a tire exploding, and went out to see what was going on.
He saw the burning buses, and police and firefighters at the scene.
"It is a very difficult and hard thing; it makes you wonder what is happening,"
said Tercero, a 54-year-old naturalized citizen from Honduras.
Royal's bright yellow buses are most familiar on Buford Highway.
Ochoa said the 6-year-old company serves riders in the Lindbergh area of Atlanta, Sandy Springs and Doraville.
Ochoa said one of his buses was torched in the same storage yard last year.
He said police determined it was arson but no arrests have been made.