A 21-year-old man was struck by cars and killed on a Nashville interstate early Sunday when he intentionally jumped out of a moving vehicle, police said.

The Decherd man, who police did not identify, was riding in the front passenger seat of a vehicle on Interstate 24 when he intentionally opened the door and jumped out onto the highway shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday, police said.

The vehicle was traveling eastbound near the Interstate 440 interchange.

After the man jumped from the moving vehicle, he was struck by other cars passing through the area, police said.

Police said the man had argued with his family earlier in the evening and classified the death as a suicide.

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.