By Shawn Key
Detroit, MI (WDIV/CNN) - A computerized road construction sign was hacked in Michigan, to send a racially charged message about Trayvon Martin.
The note described the dead Florida teen as the n-word.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says 50,000 drivers see the sign on Interstate 94 every day. Overnight people saw the sign, slammed on their brakes, and couldn't believe it.
Someone was somehow able to change the traffic message to "Trayvon a" and then in bright orange letters display the n-word for all to see.
Elaine Bonner saw the sign, called 911, and then called WDIV-TV.
"When I saw it I was mortified. I said 'no they didn't' and I told my friend, I said, 'turn around I don't believe this,'" said Bonner.
"It's just ugly, it's just uncalled for," said Rob Morosi with MDoT.
Morosi says there's evidence the road sign was broken into.
The signs are usually password protected, but he says someone with computer knowledge would be able to figure out how to change the sign. In fact, there are step-by-step instructions online to show anyone how to do it.
"Obviously they knew what they were doing in terms of erasing the original message, putting a new message on and then having that message run," said Morosi.
Overnight the State Police got MDoT to come out and quickly remove the hate message.
Both MDoT and the State Police are asking anyone who may have seen someone or a car at the sign to give them a call.
WDIV/CNN