Johnny Goudreau and his brother were biking on County Route 551 in their hometown of Oldmans Township around 8 p.m when Higgins struck them from behind with his black Jeep Grand Cherokee, the New Jersey State Police said.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
The trooper who responded to the crash noted the scent of alcohol on Higgins’ breath.
The motorist later admitted that he had “five to six beers” before the fatal incident.
Higgins failed a field sobriety test, troopers said.
He later appeared glassy-eyed and somewhat dazed
in his mugshot.
In an interview with police, Higgins explained that he was traveling north in a Jeep Grand Cherokee behind a sedan and an SUV, the criminal complaint obtained by The Post said.
He tried to pass the slower-moving cars by moving into the southbound lanes, the authorities explained.
Higgins passed the sedan and tried to reenter the northbound lanes when the SUV in front of him moved into the middle of the roadway in order to safely pass the bicyclists on the right side of the road.
Higgins then tried to move past the SUV on the right, and struck the brothers from behind, troopers said.
He told police that he believed that SUV was preventing him from passing, and that his alcohol consumption exacerbated his frustration and lack of patience.