SLIPPERY ROCK — A man is accused of driving with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit with his two young sons in his sport utility vehicle, authorities said.

A short time before the weekend traffic stop near Slippery Rock, 40-year-old Aaron M. Joyce had picked up the children, ages 9 and 11, for visitation from his former mother-in-law’s house, according to court documents.

State police on Sunday afternoon arrested Joyce, of Ellwood City, Lawrence County, who faces drunken driving, children endangerment and other charges.

Authorities suspect earlier that day, the defendant got into a fight with his stepbrother at their parents’ house in Muddy Creek Township. Joyce allegedly punched the other man before speeding away about 4:45 p.m. in a Chevrolet Equinox.

The stepbrother contacted authorities and told police that Joyce was “highly intoxicated” and probably headed to Slippery Rock to pick up his children, documents said.

Trooper Jamhal Simon pulled over Joyce’s SUV about 5:30 p.m. on Route 108 out of Slippery Rock. The officer said he smelled a “strong odor” of alcohol coming from the suspect.

Simon also noticed the two boys in the vehicle.

Joyce initially claimed he had nothing to drink. But he was arrested after a preliminary breath test indicated otherwise.

While being driven to the barracks in a police car, he thanked police for pulling him over, documents said.

“I put my kids’ lives in jeopardy,” he acknowledged, according to a police affidavit.

A breath test on the police Datamaster machine revealed Joyce’s blood-alcohol level was 0.176 percent. A level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated under state law.

Simon said the children were returned to their mother’s custody following the arrest.

The next day, Joyce’s ex-wife obtained a temporary protection from abuse order barring him from having any contact with their sons. A hearing to make to order final is Dec. 22.