The sister and mother of the man who apparently committed suicide Tuesday by being in the path of a train said they don’t want the Union Pacific crew members to beat themselves up over the man’s death.

“We know they tried to stop in time. You can’t stop a train on a dime,” said Laurel Lemke of Norwood.

She is the sister of Scott C. Schneider, 50. He was walking down the Union Pacific tracks adjacent to U.S. Highway 65 south of Albert Lea and east of Interstate 35 and did not remove himself from the path of a southbound freight train.

His mother, Barbara Schneider, resides in Norwood but spent most of her years in Mound.

Lemke said her brother suffered from depression and alcoholism.

“He couldn’t see his way clear,” she said.

She said he kissed his girlfriend good night then left on a walk. Dispatchers received a call at 12:08 a.m. Tuesday of a casualty on the Union Pacific tracks.

The sister and mother also want to thank the first responders.

“We wish to extend our great appreciation to the police and to the first responders who were called to the scene,” Lemke said.

She called on people to be especially aware of depression and other mental problems, particularly in light of a long winter.