HAMPTON, N.H. — A New Hampshire woman administered a painkilling drug to a 19-year-old Seabrook woman about eight hours before the younger woman drove into a group of cyclists, killing two women from Massachusetts, according to police.

At a probable cause hearing Wednesday, police said Cindy Sheppard, 48, cut open a fentanyl patch and squeezed the drug onto Darriean Hess’ finger. They said Sheppard wanted to calm Hess down after the younger woman had been pulled over for speeding, according to the Portsmouth Herald.

Eight hours later, the unlicensed Hess was speeding again in the same stretch of road when she crossed the center line and hit a group of cyclists participating in an annual ride.

Killed in the crash were 60-year-old Pamela Wells, of South Hamilton, Mass., and 52-year-old Elise Bouchard, of Danvers, Mass. Two others were injured.

Sheppard, of Hampton, has been charged with a felony count of selling drugs and a violation of letting an unlicensed driver operate a vehicle. At the hearing Wednesday, Judge Mark Weaver ruled there was enough probable cause for police to arrest her. She is being held on $25,000 bail.

Hess, who was charged with two counts of negligent homicide, is free on $50,000 bail.