I have driven that Beltway many times, and I cannot believe he stayed alive doing 55 on it.
Of course there was little traffic in front of him, they were all piled up behind.
Nothing is worse on the beltway than a cop sitting still with his lights flashing.
I took a trip out there one time and I saw the cops doing it. They would have a cop car in each lane doing 55. No way around, we all had to drive 55.